Monday, January 24, 2011

Ruto team troops to Western for meetings

By Allan Kisia and Osinde Obare
Allies of Eldoret North MP William Ruto yesterday joined him at rallies in parts of Western Province to spread their message of generational change in Kenya’s political leadership.
Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa and Ford Kenya Chairman Musikari Kombo were his hosts.
Ruto and Wamalwa had previously indicated they would team up in the 2012 General Election with other youthful leaders, but the surprise was Kombo’s presence.
The Ford Kenya chairman said he is ready to back the agenda Ruto and Wamalwa are championing.
"I don’t condemn your agenda. I support this journey and I will walk with you to offer my advice and for the interest of the county the old politicians should not hamper the move by the youth to bring desirable change to the country," Kombo said.
Former Trade Minister Mukhisa Kituyi also accompanied them at the rallies in Kitale, Webuye and Kimilili districts. Ruto, however, said that their agenda was not one of tribal alliances but a union of leaders to take over leadership from the pre-independence generation.
He said the term "KKK" that has lately been used to describe his association with Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka was coined by his critics. "Some people are peddling propaganda there is an alliance called "KKK" when they see us walking and campaigning together. This is no such alliance and I don’t support such tribal inclinations, "said Ruto.
Ruto first spoke at a funds drive at Kiminini Catholic Church for the priest Fr Francis Opondo.
Other MPs at the funds drive included Mr Cyrus Jirongo (Lugari), Mr Kiema Kilonzo(Mutito), Mr Kazungu Kambi (Kaloleni), Mr Elijah Lagat (Emgwen), Mr Mike Mbuvi (Makadara) and Mr Fred Kapondi (Mt Elgon).
"Come rain or sunshine, my determination to unite Kenyans is going to succeed, despite my political critics. Let them continue branding us "tribal" when they see us together," he said. The leaders later addressed a well attended rally at Kamukuywa in Kimilili, where Ruto told the crowd that his home province is done with Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s ODM.
He also dismissed projects under the Prime Minister’s office as a total failure and said the "old guard" should brace for the mother of all battles come 2012.
"There is no turning back. Let them say what they want, but we will meet at the ballot in 2012," he added. He said the Kazi Kwa Vijana project was a failure and should not be used to confuse youths that they have some form of employment.
"We must not complain anymore as youths. Roll up your sleeves and go to the ring," he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi who is the most senior politician from Western Province, also came under attack for failing to unite politicians from the province.
"He (Mudavadi) is saying that he has doubts in going for the presidency because western is divided. Is he not a mad man? If Western is divided it means he has failed to do his work," said the Eldoret North MP.
Ruto lashed out at Mudavadi for not reading the "signs of the time" and warned that the strong wind blown by the advocates of generational change would sweep away leaders like him.
"I pity Mudavadi when he says he is not going to contest the presidency because the Luhyas are not united. Who is supposed to unite the community if not Mudavadi? He requires prayers to move away from his failures," Ruto told a big crowd who demanded to be addressed at the Kiminini Bus stage.
General election
Addressing another rally in Webuye, Ruto reiterated that the Kalenjin community has already made their decision in regards to 2012 elections.
"When we decide, we don’t look back. We make a decision once and for all. We were fully behind Uhuru Kenyatta in 2002 though he lost and backed ODM in 2007" he added.
He continued: "Next year we will not put there an old man and overburden him with work. We want old people to give advice to us on how to run the country."
Ruto said he respects the old guard, but young people also want to be given a chance to lead the country. Wamalwa said Western would need the support of other communities to ascend to power.
"We cannot work alone. We need all other communities if we have to get the presidency," he reiterated.
Wamalwa dismissed accusations that he is inciting youth to topple the Government.
"We will not seek power through unconstitutional means," he added.
Kombo said that he was assured that Ruto and his team were not fronting for tribal alliances.
"He has told me that he will work with all Kenyans", he added.

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