DP William Ruto’s ally threatens to join ranks with Kanu and URP rebels

ELDORET: Rebellion against the Jubilee government in Rift Valley widened after a key ally to Deputy President William Ruto announced he would join forces with those opposing the ruling coalition.

Friday, Kapsaret MP Oscar Sudi criticised the Jubilee government saying since it was voted in, the region continues to suffer in distribution of resources and job opportunities.

Speaking during the burial of Paul Maru, a slain Kenya Defence Forces officer, in Chepkoiyo, in his Kapseret Constituency, Mr Sudi said he would join the DP’s rivals until their demands are met.

“We voted in the Jubilee coalition expecting equal treatment like our counterparts from President Uhuru Kenyatta’s party, but it is currently not so,” he said.

The utterances came a day after police cancelled an anti-Ruto meeting in Kapsabet on Thursday citing security concerns.

“Many development projects have not kicked off in our regions. Key ministerial and parastatal appointments have also been unfairly distributed,” Sudi added.

He said the plight of farmers who form a big percentage of North Rift residents has not been solved while the government continues to pump millions into failed projects like the Galana Irrigation Scheme.

“The DP should come clear and tell us if there are differences with the President or if his boss is hard on him,” he said.

Sudi said the ongoing political contest unraveling in the South Rift is a signal that all is not rosy in the region.

“The by-elections in Bomet and Kericho are clear signs that all is not well. I am ready to campaign along with Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto and Kanu brigades for the candidate of their choice until the government heeds our call,” he added.

He said there is need to put the planned merger between The National Alliance (TNA), United Republican Party (URP) and other affiliate parties on hold until a clear working framework is developed.

Uasin Gishu County Assembly speaker Isaac Terer echoed Sudi’s sentiments, saying the growing rifts will impact the region’s political agenda of 2017.

Earlier on Thursday, tension was high in Kapsabet after police cancelled a protest rally against Deputy President William Ruto and Jubilee organised by rebel Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter. A group of elected and former leaders had teamed up ready to issue a strong statement against the Jubilee Government and the DP, only to be caught unawares by the move to outlaw the meeting.

Business in the town came to a standstill, with police maintaining a heavy presence as residents protested the cancellation. The Nandi Hills MP had not arrived at the rally ground by the time police officers led by Kapsabet OCS Abraham Ndegwa cancelled it “on security grounds”.

“We have reviewed our security situation and have been forced to cancel the rally due to security reasons,” said the OCS.
Enraged county residents defied police orders to disperse and went ahead to hold a press conference, terming the Jubilee government “a disappointment and not worthy of their support.’ MCAs J Maiyo (Maraba Ward), Julius Kiptindinyo (Kapsimotwo ward), Paul Lagat (UDF nominated) and Joseph Too (Chemundu) led residents in the press conference.

Other leaders including former Kapsabet mayors John Maru and David Ng’etich, former Nandi County Council Vice chairman Philiph Keino and Wesley Mosbey (former Nandi-Hills Mayor) also addressed the media.

Keter, who had earlier said he was on the way to the meeting, did not make it to the venue after learning it had been outlawed by the police.