Leaders trash Ruto bid for PM job

By Anderson Ojwang’ and Patrick Beja
A section of MPs, elders and clerics from Nyanza have warned suspended Higher Education Minister William Ruto to stop antagonising Kenyan communities while advancing his political schemes.
The leaders dismissed Mr Ruto’s scheme to oust Raila Odinga as Prime Minister saying, "it was a pipe dream, myopic, illegal and ill-advised".
The leaders led by Education Assistant Minister Ayiecho Olweny, MPs Oyugi Magwanga (Kasipul Kabondo) Shakeel Shabbir (Kisumu Town East) Bishop Ogonyo Ngede of Nyanza Council of Churches, Rev Kenneth Wachianga and elder Odungi Randa said Ruto and his allies should read the National Accord and what it stipulates.
"The Coalition Government was a negotiated settlement with strict terms. If anybody wants to create confusion, we are ready for elections," said Prof Olweny.
Mr Magwanga and Mr Shabbir said Ruto and his allies should seek fresh mandate from the electorate if he wants to become the Prime Minister.
"The issue of premiership is a non issue. Ruto should not bring his political war with Raila into the running of the Government. We are tired of his political antics," said Magwanga.
Ngede said the move by Ruto-led political class to undermine unity between the Luo and Kalenjin was bound to fail.
"We as elders have held consultations with our colleagues from the Kalenjin. We know what game Ruto is playing and we will ensure the good working relationship between the communities does not collapse," said Randa.
Ordinary people Wachianga said politics of hatred and witch-hunt has no place in the current political dispensation and leaders must stick to issues and ideologies. They claimed Ruto was out to incite his community against the Luos in order not to support Raila’s presidential bid in the next General Election.
Separately, a top ODM official has claimed Raila still enjoys support of ordinary people in Rift Valley despite several MPs from the region walking out of his fold.
Vice-Chairman Ramadhan Kajembe also defended the Prime Minister over the inclusion of ODM Chairman Henry Kosgey in the list of six post-election violence suspects by the International Criminal Court.
Mr Kajembe said Raila has no hand in Mr Kosgey’s trouble and the exodus of Rift Valley MPs from the PM’s camp was unwarranted.
Speaking at the weekend in the company of other ODM MPs Masoud Mwahima and Hassan Joho, Kajembe said the party was set for a landslide victory in the next General Election.
"ODM is now the single largest political party under Raila who is its preferred presidential candidate unlike the PNU Alliance with several people eyeing the presidency. We are set to form the next Government," said Kajembe.
On the exit of Rift Valley MPs from ODM, Kajembe claimed the PM would rely on his solid support on the ground.
"The people at the grassroots are still with Raila and this is why he still has support in Rift Valley," said he.
Joho, who is ODM national organising secretary, said the party has remained strong.