An article appearing in The Standard last Friday with the heading ‘Moi and the Kalenjin: Just who owes who what?’ missed the point and cannot go unchallenged.
The author, Walter Chesang, misinterpreted facts when he claimed that Deputy President William Ruto has been criss-crossing the great Rift Valley collecting political debts. This is ridiculous.
Mr Chesang should stop misleading the public that the Deputy President is desperate for support from Baringo Senator Gideon Moi for his political survival.
However, it is the view of majority of the people in the Kalenjin nation that Mr Moi joins hands with other leaders in rallying support for the Deputy President just like the community, including Ruto, did in supporting the leadership of retired President Moi.
The fact remains it is the wish of the majority of the Kalenjin people that Moi’s family has the duty and obligation to support the leadership of Ruto, because, by doing so, it will give the community another chance to ascend to the presidency.
Though it is true that Ruto went into political Siberia, literally, after 2002, it is not right for the writer to say he clutched at every straw and ate from every table, consorting with every political Tom, Dick and Harry including Raila Odinga, and that in 2007 the Kalenjin nation was almost plunged into political oblivion because of him.
The writer should come to terms with the fact that it is Ruto’s hard work, determination and humility have brought him to where he is today.
After all, nothing in life is just handed over on a silver platter, as the writer seems to portray in his article.
It is ridiculous for some leaders to claim the battle for the control of the vote-rich Rift Valley is shaping up with Baringo County becoming the epicenter of the tussle pitting the Deputy President and Senator Moi.
PARTIES OF CHOICE
Indeed, in Rift Valley, for instance, the Jubilee Party and Kanu are emerging front-runners with leaders; defending or seeking various elective posts, contemplating how to overcome the storm.
JP in which President Uhuru Kenyatta and Ruto hope to seek re-election, however, has an upper hand in the vast region with majority of locals favouring it.
In a twist of events, it is emerging that majority of voters in the region have more confidence in the leadership of the Deputy President despite threats from a section of leaders that they are not ready to embrace JP.
Most of them are banking on the DP to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta under the current political merger.
This means members of the Kalenjin community are prepared to unite and put their house in order as they seek support from other communities when President Uhuru’s two terms come to an end in 2022.
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Though some of the residents argue that some of the comments in political rallies by those leaders close to the Deputy President are just meant to ‘please’ him and not propel him, as they tend to irritate the voters.
It is time leaders in Rift Valley forget their political differences and put their house in order.
Most voters want leaders to tone down their “irresponsible utterances” and embrace reconciliatory tones in order to woo back all their supporters to rally behind the Deputy President.
It should, therefore, not be taken that because there are dissenting voices in Rift Valley, Mr Ruto’s support is waning. The DP is emerging as the political kingmaker in the region.
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