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The Nairobian

Gideon accuses deputy President of intimidating leaders to join Jubilee

Politics

By Vincent Mabatuk | Mar 21, 2016

Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ngeno (left), Baringo County Assembly Speaker William Kamket (second right) and Baringo Senator Gideon Moi (right) join traditional dancers in a jig at Salawa Primary School, Baringo County, on Saturday. [Photo: Kipsang Joseph/Standard]

Kanu leaders have accused Deputy President William Ruto of intimidating Rift Valley leaders and residents to join Jubilee Party.

Kanu chairman Gideon Moi, however, said the former ruling party had put in place proper mechanisms to deal with political threats and vote manipulation, saying interference with the elections as allegedly happened in Kericho will not be entertained.

"It is disheartening to see elected leaders threatened to the point they cannot express their views. During the Kericho by-election, more than 50 MPs from Rift Valley called me to express their fears," he said.

Jubilee won the Kericho senatorial by-election, a victory that was disputed by Kanu.

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The Baringo senator, however, clarified that he has no problem with the Deputy President succeeding President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2022.

"What we are saying as Kanu is that the Government must deliver the promises it made to the people in 2013. Those saying I am after Ruto's position should know that it's the people of Kenya who will decide," he said.

He urged Kanu supporters to be brave in the face of political intimidation and make sure they elect leaders of integrity.

He also told Jubilee to be ready for a fierce political battle in the 2017 General Election.

National Assembly Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso however dismissed Gideon's allegations that Ruto is using his political influence to sway those with different political opinion in the Rift Valley. Ms Laboso told Kanu to accept that they were beaten hands down in the Kericho by-election.

"Let those saying they are being intimidated accept that they are not in the Deputy President's league. They mounted a campaign that they thought would beat Jubilee only to be proved wrong by the people of Kericho," she said.

Bureti MP Leonard Sang also dismissed claims that area legislators were intimidated by the Deputy President to support Jubilee. He said the MPs chose to support the Jubilee candidate in the Kericho by-election of their own accord.

Community library

"We supported the JAP candidate in the Kericho by-election as we believed he was the right man for the job. No leader from the region has been intimidated by the DP to support the party," Sang said.

Gideon, who was speaking at Salawa Primary School during a fund-raiser for a community library, called for respect among the region's leaders.

"Time has come for elected leaders in Rift Valley to respect each other. Some people behave as if they are on the top floor while some of us are on the ground floor," said Gideon.

On the Kericho by-election, he said party lawyers and the Kanu leadership were consulting on the best way to tackle the rigging allegations.

"Some people are questioning our motive for not appearing before IEBC. But is there a day a goat will get justice in a court presided over by a hyena?" he asked.

Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ngeno asked the residents to troop back to Kanu. He said both the President and his deputy were Kanu members when mistakes were allegedly committed by the previous regime.

"A young man cannot kill his mother merely because he managed to marry a beautiful woman. Again we want everybody to know that Jubilee and Cord are not Alpha and Omega, there are so many alternatives in this country," said Ngeno.