Ruto plans to form a new party

Former Higher Educating Minister William Ruto is welcomed by residents of Kamwosor in Keiyo South District on October 22, 2010. Photo/JARED NYATAYA

By NATION TEAM
Posted Friday, October 22 2010 at 22:20

Some Kalenjin MPs plan to decamp from ODM before the next general election.

Six of them, among them Eldoret North MP William Ruto, on Friday said they had been short-changed in ODM.

Mr Ruto said they were considering forming another party because they were unhappy with the party leader.

“We boarded someone’s political vehicle last time, and it abandoned us in mid-sea. We will have ours this time round.

“I am almost done with the preparations,” Mr Ruto said in his native language while presiding over the launch of the Keiyo South Constituency Development Fund strategic plan at Chepkorio showground on Friday.

MPs present were Lucas Chepkitony (Keiyo North), Moses Lesonet (Eldama Ravine), Benjamin Lang’at (Ainamoi) and Linah Kilimo (Marakwet East).

The Eldoret North MP said the recent constitutional referendum was a rehearsal for his presidential race.

“We knew our destiny right at the referendum. A clever man kills three birds with one stone,” Mr Ruto said.

“My hands are clean. They began with the maize scandal and they failed. I am innocent and even if I am not, how come people have cases in courts, including the government itself.

“What was wrong with Jackson Kiptanui and Charles Keter that they were sacked?” added Mr Ruto.

Mr Lang’at said the Kalenjin have many enemies and cited the recent controversial appointment of Mr Joseph Kipketer Koskey as Kenya Bureau of Standards managing director as a sign of the hate against them.

He asked Mr Ruto to disclose the new party. “We ditched ODM a long time ago. The party is a basket case. We should be prepared because we have many enemies,” said the Ainamoi MP.

Mrs Kilimo said she had studied Prime Minister Raila Odinga. “Let us join hands against this man,” she said.

The assistant minister said after she was dropped from the Cabinet in 2005, she prepared to recapture her seat and called on Mr Ruto to emulate her.