CHEER UP: President Uhuru is received by William Ruto and local leaders at Moi International Airport Eldoret yesterday.
UNITED: Ruto and Uhuru at Eldoret Airport yesterday
PRESIDENT Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto yesterday intimated that discontent among Rift Valley MPs is being fuelled by a businessman who failed to win a Sh320 billion tender.
They said the businessman influenced an MP to claim that the huge project to upgrade the railway to standard gauge was riddled with corruption.
"Brokers have pocketed politicians to push for them to get contracts," Uhuru told a rally at Eldoret Sports Club. "This is a new Kenya. Some people who are unhappy that they did not get a rail contract will not stop us from developing this country so that you can enrich yourself. Forget it."
"We have waited 100 years to build a railway, gone to China and found money for the railway. Now you want to 'eat' that money. Go away," Uhuru said.
Ruto told the rally that politicians should not be used to divide the government. The rally was attended by most leaders from the North Rift. "If you lose a contract, don't hire people to come and make noise. There is no corruption in this government," Ruto said.
Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter claimed that the railway tender awarded to a Chinese company should be investigated because it was single sourced and was double the normal cost per kilometre.
The latest issue of Nairobi Law Monthly claims that three top state officials and a Mombasa businessman wedged themselves between Kenya Railways and the Chinese contractor to skim off 10 percent of the railway tender. It claims that Sh32 billion was shared out with three officials each pocketing Sh9.6 billion and the Mombasa businessman taking home Sh3.2 billion.
Alfred Keter was cheered when he asked the President to sack those in government who helped frame Ruto at the ICC. Last month Ruto supporters claimed that PNU officials, who are still in government, provided incriminating information to then ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo.
“If they wanted Ruto to be hanged at The Hague, how come they are in this government led by you and Ruto? They have to go so that they create space for younger leaders,” said Keter to cheering from the crowd. “We will not leave Jubilee. If there are any mistakes we will fight each other within until we sort out,” he said.
Keter said the Jubilee government promised to create jobs and would not accept mass sackings of civil servants. “We have refused and we will not allow it,” he said.
Uhuru and Ruto, who had earlier met local leaders at the State Lodge in Eldoret, asked MPs to give the government time to perform its work.
Ruto said the ICC had given him a headache but it should not bother local leaders. “Those demanding that certain people should be sacked are playing the outdated politics of the Kanu regime. When you start chasing people from government, everybody will go and we will be in trouble. Please stop that kind of politics,” said Ruto.
Uhuru said he was not ready to sack anyone from government because of petty politics and told off Keter saying no one would dictate who should be in government. He accused brokers of sponsoring politicians after they failed to win tenders.
“They can wait for their own government where they will dictate things. This government is new and will not entertain corruption,” said Uhuru. URP supporters heckled later speakers who criticised Keter’s sentiments.
“Let’s not tell lies. Its not yet time to start grumbling about this government," said Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi amid shouting from a section of the crowd.
The agitated MP shouted back that who were heckling had each been paid Sh200. “Keter is my friend more than you people shouting there. It’s not good to tell lies here and incite people," said Sudi. Tiati MP Asman Kamama was also heckled.
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