Friday, January 13, 2012

17 MPs tag along Ruto to new party



By Vitalis Kimutai

MPs allied to Eldoret North MP William Ruto have joined the newly formed United Republican Party (URP), but announced they would hold on to their parliamentary seats.
The 17 MPs from ODM, PNU and Kaddu announced that they had been forced to abandon the United Democratic Movement (UDM) after it was allegedly infiltrated by outside forces.
In a statement read by Turkana Central MP Ekwe Ethuro and Assistant minister Kazungu Kambi, the MPs said some powerful individuals were out to ensure they had no control of the party.
"These forces were ready to use legal processes such as courts and tribunals to keep us languishing in the desert and miss the straight path to Canaan," stated Ethuro.
They said although their competitors erected roadblocks to scuttle their political careers, God had enabled them to establish a new political party whose slogan is ‘Kusema na Kutenda (say and do).
"We have in the spirit of peace and national unity allowed our friends and their backers to keep their party (UDM)," said Ethuro.
Others who attended the news conference at the Serena Hotel included Trade Minister Chirau Mwakwere, Assistant ministers William Cheptumo and Asman Kamama, and MPs William Ruto, Cyrus Jirongo, Aden Duale, Zakayo Cheruiyot, Muhamud Sirat, Chachu Ganya, Charles Keter, Moses Lessonet, Isaac Ruto, David Koech, Peris Simam, Joshua Kutuny and former MP Omingo Magara.
LEAN GOVERNMENT
They said they would push for a lean and efficient government that is devoid of bureaucracy and where public money would be used in a prudent way.
"We respect the family as the basic unit of the nation. We subscribe to family values based on African principles especially marriage being between man and woman and the sanctity of life from conception," said Duale.
Ruto sat through the meeting but did not field questions, leaving the task to fellow MPs.
Last week, Ruto and his allies were forced to shop for another party after it became apparent that they had no control of UDM with Secretary General Martin Kamwaro and chairman Joseph Chirchir leading different National Executive Council factions.

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