Kanu: Stop politicising ICC prayer rallies

Kanu leaders (from left) Mogotio MP Hellen Sambili, Baringo Senator Gideon Moi, Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ng’eno and Secretary General Nick Salat join students in a jig at Solian Day Secondary School during a fundraiser over the weekend. [Photo: Boniface Thuku/Standard]

Kanu leaders from the Rift Valley have taken issue with utterances made by some Jubilee leaders in regard to the ongoing prayer rallies in support of Deputy President William Ruto and radio journalist Joshua Sang.

Speaking during a fund-raiser in Eldama Ravine, the leaders asked their counterparts led by National Assembly Majority Leader Adan Duale not to politicise the prayer rallies.

During the Baringo anti-ICC prayers, Duale and some Jubilee politicians had asked the Kalenjin community to take record of leaders who were absent and reject them in next General Election.

Kanu Secretary General Nick Salat dismissed Duale’s remarks, saying a prayer was a secret activity and taking roll call on who was in attendance or not was a political watchband targeted at certain politicians in the vote-rich region.

“We are in different political vehicles but I have been praying for my two brothers to be acquitted, yet it’s not a must that I be seen in rallies. Taking roll calls at prayer rallies must stop forthwith,” said Salat.

Emurua Dikirr MP John Ng’eno said they will continue wishing well the DP but will not allow Duale to use the church as a platform to discredit some Rift Valley leaders.

“For everybody to know we mean well for our two brothers still battling to have their names cleared at ICC, we will organise similar prayers without politics in it,” said Ng’eno.

The MP said the revelation by Gatundu South MP and his Kabete counterpart Ferdinand Waititu was of great importance, saying the blame game on the alleged fixing should come to an end. He challenged President Uhuru Kenyatta to apply all possible options to appeal to those associated with the claims to open up and speak the truth or prepare to face the community’s wrath in the next polls.

“If the DP will in 2017 still have the same ICC tag, then it will be another opportunity for the community to think otherwise politically. President Kenyatta and Ruto had a similar problem in 2013 and that is why we voted for them, only for the President to sort out his problem and leave our son in the problem,” said Ng’eno.

Political competition

However, Baringo Senator Gideon Moi kept off from the ICC prayer rallies’ debate, reiterating the need to have leaders address issues affecting Kenyans and to stop unnecessary blame games and trading insults in public. The senator asked residents to remain firm and prepare themselves for what lies ahead.

“Some of us are not interested in politics of mudslinging but working for the people. I urge you to remain firm and stand for what is right and not be swayed by empty rhetoric,” said the Baringo senator.

 

Mogotio MP Hellen Sambili said negative talks directed at some leaders believed to have failed to attend the prayer rallies should not be entertained, saying prayers was a serious event and should not be confused with political competition.

West Pokot Senator John Lonyangapuo said the Kalenjin community has been taken for a ride for quite a long time, as well as being forced to be part of different political parties since 2007, saying the time to make a bold decision had arrived.

“In 2007, the community was fooled until they left Kanu for Orange Democratic Movement. In 2013, they were in another political trek that ended up in the United Democratic Movement, United Republican Party and we are told another house called Jubilee Alliance Party is under construction,” he said.

The senator said it was important for the electorate to understand that leadership was about an individual and not endless formation of parties. He asked resident to have faith in the former ruling party and troop back home in the next polls. “Kanu is permanent and a pensionable party,” he said.

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