Sack Ruto Now, ODM MPs Insist

Geoffrey Mosoku
13 August 2010

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Nairobi — ODM Parliamentary Group members want Higher Education minister William Ruto sacked from the Cabinet for campaigning against the new constitution.

The MPs yesterday resolved that Ruto should be dropped as the deputy party leader for his crusade against the proposed constitution, which ODM supported, before the referendum on August 4.

The ODM's other deputy party leader is Local Government minister Musalia Mudavadi.

The PG members met for three hours yesterday morning at the party headquarters at Orange House in the Kilimani, Nairobi.

President Kibaki will promulgate the new constitution on August 27.

After yesterday's meeting, ODM PG secretary Ababu Namwamba told journalists that the party had resolved to discipline members who went against the party policy.

"ODM will apply its constitution which stipulates the kind of action to be taken against those who oppose the party policies. We have resolved to initiate the process of taking action against those who opposed the party policy of supporting the new constitution," said Ababu.

The MPs proposed that Ruto be replaced in the Cabinet by Eldoret East MP Prof Margaret Kamar, and as deputy party leader by Agriculture minister Sally Kosgei. However, some MPs argued that the second post of deputy party leader should be scrapped instead.

"Most members were of the opinion that Ruto's position should be scrapped or he be replaced by Dr Kosgei," said one MP who attended the PG.

Prime Minister and ODM leader Raila Odinga has repeatedly stated that no one will be sacked for opposing the now ratified constitution during the referendum. He has preached reconciliation and asked Kenyans to move ahead with the implementation process as a united nation.

However ODM secretary general Anyang Nyong'o backed the sacking calls, arguing, "Spare the rod and spoil the child".

Yesterday Ababu told the Star that disciplinary action should target those holding party and government positions.

Asked whether that meant he was demanding Ruto's removal, Ababu replied, "That's conjecture." Potentially Ruto and his ally Ainamoi MP Benjamin Langat could now also be dropped from the ODM National Executive Council which is the party's governing body.

But these sentiments were met with fury by MPs who supported the No campaign.

"The ODM seems to be living in the past. The days of Kanu are long gone when MPs were threatened with suspension or expulsion," Belgut MP Charles Keter declared.

Keter, a staunch ally of Ruto, termed the PG resolutions as blackmail.

"We are ready and prepared for any action, but let them know that just like Kanu, the party might one day be on its knees," he said.

Keter denied that ODM had a common stand on the constitution and said the No MPs acted out of personal conviction.

He warned that ODM should prepare for a backlash if action was taken against the No MPs, but would not specify what might happen.

"We will cross the bridge when we get there," Keter said.

The ODM censure on Ruto and his allies contradicts both President Kibaki and Raila who have maintained that government needs all Kenyans for smooth implementation of the new constitution.

At the PG yesterday, some MPs initially demanded that all No MPs be expelled from ODM to allow by-elections.

But other MPs said that would cause unnecessary tension, especially in the Rift Valley where most of the No MPs come from.

At the meeting, former Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru, a prominent No campaigner, pleaded with the party not to expel her.

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Wanjiru told fellow ODM members that she had supported the No campaign because of her faith and not politics.

She said she should not be kicked out because in 2007 she campaigned tirelessly for ODM, even in hostile places like Central Province.

"I am a life member of ODM and don't intended to defect. The party should stand with me now just like I have done in the past," she appealed.

At the meeting, the party resolved that the No MPs should not be included in the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Implementation of the Constitution.

The ODM told those demanding amendments by the President and PM to read the constitution again.

"Any proposal to amend the constitution is provided for in the constitution. It will not be done by the President or Prime Minister," Ababu said.