Suspended Higher Education minister William Ruto addresses a rally at Muliro Gardens in Webuye on January 23, 2011. Photo/JARED NYATAYA
By NATION TEAM newsdesk@ke.nationmedia.comPosted Sunday, January 23 2011 at 21:32
MPs backing a new a political alliance of young leaders on Sunday fought off claims that they had come together as an ethnic grouping.
Ten MPs, among them suspended Higher Education minister William Ruto, said there was nothing like “KKK”, allegedly standing for a Kikuyu, Kalenjin and Kamba alliance, and termed it as propaganda.
They said those referring to them as KKK were opposed to the unity of Kenyans and to the youth taking over leadership in 2012. (Read:
The MPs spoke on a tour of Bungoma and Trans Nzoia counties as Cabinet ministers Kiraitu Murungi and Yusuf Haji dismissed the KKK alliance as “an outfit that cannot deliver leadership to anyone”.
Elsewhere, a Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka ally, Mr Ahmed Affey, said they were part of a wider alliance.
“Those talking of KKK do not know what is happening. This is an alliance that cuts across the country and will give us the next president,” said the ODM-K nominated MP.
Mr Ruto and his entourage addressed roadside crowds in Trans Nzoia and Bungoma counties before addressing the main rally at Webuye’s Muliro Gardens.
The MP, who was accompanied by Ford Kenya chairman Musikari Kombo, said the unity mooted by youthful leaders had nothing to do with ethnicity, and that the KKK tag was an idea from people with a tribal mindset.
“When youthful leaders across the country unite, they brand it as tribalism. We will not allow it. We have leaders from all communities in Kenya,” said Mr Ruto.
He said that Kenyans who had unanimously voted for Prime Minister Raila Odinga in 2007 and Deputy PM Uhuru Kenyatta in 2002 were the ones coming together to support a new leader.
Mr Kombo urged older leaders to support young generation leaders in bringing change to the country.
Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo said the youth were determined to change the politics of the country and would rally behind one of their own in a bid to bring about this change.
Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa said that the current scope of leaders had failed to set the country on a path of healing and reconciliation.
Other MPs at the rally included Fred Kapondi, Kazungu Kambi, Kiema Kilonzo, Kioko Mbuvi (Sonko), Wakoli Bifwoli and Elijah Lagat.
Deputy Prime minister Uhuru Kenyatta, who was expected in the area, did not attend.
In Kerugoya, Mr Murungi and Mr Haji, while announcing the strategy of the PNU Alliance, said Kenyans could not fit in the KKK which, they argued, had tribal ideals.
“The so called KKK is a narrow organisation and Kenyans can’t accept it,” Mr Murungi said in Kerugoya Town while drumming up support for PNU’s Kirinyaga Central parliamentary candidate, Mr Gachoki Gitari.
Reported by Erick Ngobilo, Bernard Kwalia, Goerge Munene, Charles Wanyoro and Otieno Owida
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