MPs accuse Ruto of blackmailing Raila

FILE | NATION. ODM lawmakers aligned to Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Monday accused suspended Higher Education minister William Ruto (pictured) of blackmailing their party leader.

By BENJAMIN MUINDI, bmuindi@ke.nationmedia.com, AND OLIVER MUSEMBI, osembi@yahoo.com
Posted Monday, October 25 2010 at 22:29

ODM lawmakers aligned to Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Monday accused suspended Higher Education minister William Ruto of blackmailing their party leader.

The accusations came as it emerged that Mr Ruto and his group were finalising plans for a new political party which they will unveil next month.

Five MPs supportive of Mr Odinga expressed anger at weekend remarks by the Eldoret North MP blaming the PM for delaying the resettlement of squatters who were evicted from the Mau Forest.

MPs Fred Outa (Nyando), John Pesa (Migori), John Badi (Gwassi), Yusuf Chanzu (Vihiga) and Cyprian Omolo (Uriri) were also angered by Mr Ruto’s statements that he would not work with the PM again.

“We want to condemn in very strong terms the activities of these MPs who clearly care nothing about Kenya and the 42 communities that live here,” said Mr Outa.

In their submission, the five noted that the Mau Forest evictions were a noble cause, “but the Rift Valley MPs vehemently resisted attempts by the PM to restore a national resource”.

“In their short-sightedness, greed and belief in impunity, they would rather the country disintegrated than share power to save Kenya,” Mr Outa said.

He noted that the Rift Valley MPs were opposed to the idea of power sharing between the President and PM after the disputed presidential elections in 2007. The MPs said the suspension of Mr Ruto had nothing to do with the PM, “but that the new Constitution they strongly opposed wants an end to impunity and corruption or stealing from the public”.

The pro-Ruto MPs, who declined to be named, were categorical on Monday that they were ready to quit ODM for another party.

They said the party would, however, not be the United Democratic Movement that has slowly been gathering strength in the Rift Valley.

On Monday, Mr Ruto said: “I cannot discuss that now. It is not very important.”

In Gatundu, ODM secretary-general Anyang’ Nyong’o scoffed at plans by Mr Ruto’s allies to move a censure motion against the PM.