Ruto questions Raila's legitimacy in government

By Peter Atsiaya and Titus Too

Suspended Higher Education Minister William Ruto says Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s legitimacy in the Grand Coalition Government is in question following disintegration in ODM.

Ruto toured Nandi County to step up his anti-Raila campaigns and argued that the PM’s lack of numerical strength in Parliament makes him unqualified to be one of the principals in the Coalition Government.

"It is not a secret that ODM MPs are divided with 50 on Raila’s side while another 50 are with me. Since he relied on number of MPs to legitimise his position in the Coalition Government he should disqualify himself," said Mr Ruto.

He said Raila had no authority to claim to be speaking on behalf of ODM.

"Which ODM is he speaking on behalf because most of the MPs who were subscribing to the party are not with him?" said the Eldoret North MP.

Ruto was speaking at Kaptumo grounds in Nandi County where he led 20 MPs in welcoming Agriculture Minister Sally Kosgei to his camp on Friday.

Dr Kosgei, a close ally of Raila, dealt a blow to he PM’s bid to ascend to power in the 2012 General Election when she declared she has quit his camp and joined Ruto.

Information Minister Samuel Poghisio, assistant ministers Lina Kilimo and William Cheptumo were among MPs who attended the rally.

Kosgei’s move elicited mixed reactions with pro-Raila MPs terming it as a survival tactic while those allied to Ruto said it marked the end of the support the Premier received from North Rift region.

MPs Olago Aluoch, Fred Outa, Yussuf Chanzu and Oyugi Magwanga downplayed Kosgei’s, move saying it was done out of pressure.

"Kosgei is exercising her constitutional right. She is honest with her action. She wants to survive politically," Olago told The Standard On Sunday on phone yesterday.

Mr Outa, Mr Chanzu and Mr Magwanga said ODM still enjoyed support in the North Rift.

But Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto and his Belgut counterpart Charles Keter said Kosgei’s decision to divorce Raila politically spelled doom for ODM and the PM in the region.

"The minister was the only key leader who Raila relied on to gain entry into the region. Who else would he use in her absence?" posed Mr Ruto.

Keter said more shocking political moves by top leaders were on the way. He said ODM should not bank on North Rift as its fishing zone for votes.