Blow for Raila as Kosgei joins Ruto camp

By Titus Too
Agriculture Minister Sally Kosgei wants to be counted out of ODM in 2012 General Election.
Kosgei joined 20 ODM MPs led by Eldoret North MP William Ruto in a rally in Nandi County. She declared she had joined hands with Ruto to chart a political destiny for the Kalenjin.
The minister said she does not care whether she is dropped from the Cabinet, as she was protecting the interests of her community.
"I don’t care losing my position as a minister. This flag sometimes is not important to me. I sometimes use it to evade traffic jams in the city," said Kosgei.

Suspended Higher Education Minister William Ruto with Agriculture Minister Sally Kosgei on her arrival to commission Kaptumo Tea Factory in Nandi County, on Friday. Photo: Peter Ochieng/Standard

If Ruto and Kosgey (Henry, former Industrialisation minister) had their flags taken away who am I to stick to it?" posed the minister.
Kosgei said the flag could not make her stick with the Prime Minister when her community had taken a different direction.
No retreatShe added her community’s interests come before positions she has held in Government and assured the Ruto camp there was no retreat.
"I cannot protect positions and abandon the choice of my people. If they chose to go to the mountain we will be there with them and provide leadership. We were not elected to Parliament for beauty contests, but to serve the electorate," said Kosgei.
The minister was speaking at Kaptumo grounds after commissioning a Sh550 million Kaptumo Tea Factory in her Aldai constituency.
Henry and Sally have been the only key leaders Raila relied on for support from North Rift, ahead of next year’s General Election.
Kosgei assured Ruto of her support saying he was not alone. Ruto is among six Kenyans wanted in The Hague over crimes related to 2007 post-election violence. He and Kosgey lost their ministerial positions because they have criminal cases pending in court.
‘Ocampo Six’"Some leaders have even been telling us we are corrupt people who worked in the dark days but we will prove to them that we are brilliant," said Kosgei.
Kosgei spoke on Friday when 20 MPs allied to Ruto also asked PM to step down as one of the principals since he no longer had the numbers in Parliament.
Kosgei criticised those supporting International Criminal Court saying three of the six suspects were from one community.
Ruto welcomed Kosgei’s stand adding that he would work closely with her and Henry to ensure their camp ascends to power after next year’s polls.
Information minister Samuel Poghisio, assistant ministers William Cheptumo, Lina Kilimo were preset. Others included Mohammed Ali Sirat, John Mututho, Mithika Linturi, Kazungu Kambi, David Koech, Charles Keter, Maison Leshomo (nominated) Joshua Kutuny and Moses Lesonet.