Raila turned his back on me, Ruto claims

By Peter Mutai

Agriculture Minister William Ruto has blamed Prime Minister Raila Odinga for their differences.

Mr Ruto accused the PM of turning his back on him especially after the bungled 2007 General Election.

The Eldoret North MP said he sacrificed a lot of his time at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre where the presidential vote-tallying was done and went ahead to negotiate for coalition Government where Raila later became the PM.

Ruto was speaking at Kokwet Secondary School in Kipkelion constituency during a funds drive.

"I do not have any grudge against the PM whom I fought very hard for to become the Prime Minister. I am surprised he turned his back on me and those who struggled for him following the flawed elections," he said.

"If I was selfish and despised the PM then I should not have fought for Raila to become the country’s premier. I was not hungry for power or position, but I wanted the country to have peace," he added.

Mass action

Ruto said the differences started after Raila disowned hundreds of youths who heeded the party’s call for mass action, which later turned violent and left more than 1,300 people dead and another 350,000 displaced.

"I was shocked when Raila called for the prosecution of youths who were arrested in connection with the violence and trumped up charges preferred against them and yet they were demonstrating over the stolen votes," he said.

On the eviction of squatters from Mau Forest, Ruto, who was accompanied by Energy Assistant Minister Charles Keter, Ainamoi MP Benjamin Langat and several councillors, said Raila betrayed the Kalenjin community when he supported calls for their eviction from the forest.

"We told Raila the evictions should be done in a humane manner and that the squatters be allocated alternative settlement. They are now living in camps by the road side," he said.

Kipkelion MP Magerer Langat was on the receiving end when a section of Rift Valley MPs at the function accused him of betrayal for his association with Raila. The MPs warned Magerer he risked not going to Parliament in 2012 if he goes against Ruto.

But Magerer steered off pleas by his colleagues to abandon Raila, saying they will discuss the matter at an opportune time.

"I remain focused and ready to work with every leader in Government. I can consult Ruto as the Agriculture Minister on issues affecting my people. I cannot be told not to work with certain leaders from the same Government," he said.