The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and international interest.

Standard Group Plc HQ Office,
The Standard Group Center,Mombasa Road.
P.O Box 30080-00100,Nairobi, Kenya.
Telephone number: 0203222111, 0719012111
Email: [email protected]

NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

Isaac Ruto ‘ready to unite with DP after ICC victory’

Politics

By Rael Jelimo | Apr 06, 2016

Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto has made a unity call to Deputy President William Ruto.

The Bomet Governor said there was no longer 'reason and more excuses for tensions between the various communities in the country' now that the DP and radio journalist Joshua arap Sang had been cleared from The Hague based court.

In an e-mail to The Standard through his Personal Assistant Vitalis Kimutai, the rebel United Republican Party (URP) governor alluded to intentions 'to unite' with the DP following his victory at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy should now lead in uniting all the communities across the country now that the DP has been discharged from ICC," read the mail in part.

The Bomet executive added: "As the clock ticks towards the next general election, there should be no more reason or excuses for tensions among various communities."

Keep Reading

Ruto called on the President and his deputy to channel all their energies in rolling out tangible development projects.

"Now that the President and the DP have been freed from ICC process; they have no other monumental issues to deal with but channel all their efforts to deliver on the mandate of the Jubilee government," he said.

The governor said that time had vindicated all Kenyans who were 'hauled before the ICC' and termed the Ocampo six innocent of any crimes that had been directed at them.

"The 2007/2008 Post-Election Violence was sporadic as a result of a disputed presidential poll tally; none of the accused persons planned, funded or fanned the subsequent chaos," said Ruto.

He called on the two top Jubilee leaders to lead the way in healing rifts caused by the PEV to further cement unity and peace across the country ahead of 2017 polls.

The governor's sentiments come at a time when simmering differences between him and the DP have threatened to divide the Rift voting block where the Bomet governor went against his party aspirations to campaign for KANU's candidate Paul Sang in the recently completed Kericho senatorial by-election.

Ruto, who had since made it clear he will find a new home outside the ruling Jubilee coalition once political parties in this coalition fold to form one amalgamated party, seems to be rethinking his moves even as the DP stamps his authority in the Rift after the ICC verdict which has turned him into a hero in the region.

Meanwhile, Nandi Council of Elders (Nandi Kaburwo) has also made calls for unity among leaders in the Rift Valley following the ICC verdict.

Congratulating the DP, the elders' chairman Benjamin Kitur said Rift leaders were obligated to ensure unity in the region ahead of 2017 election and to give Ruto their unwavering support.

"Now the DP is free, there is no need for more wrangling," he said.

Kitur called upon the DP to take this opportune victory to sit and dialogue with all disgruntled leaders in the Rift.