Uhuru snubs two Ruto rift invites

what?s so funny? Chesumei MP Elijah Langat (L), Nandi governor Cleophas Lagat (C) and DP William Ruto during the opening of the Nandi Investment Conference and Exhibition at Nandi showground yesterday.

BY MATHEWS NDANYI | April 11, 2015

The absence of President Uhuru Kenyatta at a key event in Rift Valley for the second time in a month is causing discontent among some politicians and farmers.

Uhuru had been expected to preside yesterday over the Nandi Investment Conference and Exhibition in Kapsabet town but Deputy President William Ruto played that role instead.

Both Uhuru and Ruto had been invited to the event by Governor Cleophas Lagat and the media had reported that the President would be the chief guest.

Uhuru had also been lined up for other key events including laying the foundation stone for Koitalel Samoei University in Nandi Hills.

Last month Uhuru’s visit to Eldoret to open the Agricultural Society of Kenya show was cancelled at the last minute. Farmers complained as they are facing a crisis in marketing as the National Cereals and Produce Board has struggled to buy their harvested crops, especially maize, for the last two months.

ASK National Vice Chairman Jack Tuwei and Governor Jackson Mandago had confirmed that Uhuru would attend the show but it was shelved at the last minute amid reports  that farmers were planning a protest over the maize crisis.

Yesterday State House Political Adviser Joshua Kutuny said the president was not able to attend the event in Nandi because it was not in his diary.

“I urge organizers of such key events to ensure that they invite the President through the right channels by writing to State House at least two months in advance so that all events are planned for,” said Kutuny.

Kutuny said the media had hyped the appearance of the President in Nandi yesterday before confirming the visit.

“It's good to confirm such plans because they end up portraying the President in a bad light yet in actual sense he had not been programmed to be in the region," said Kutuny.

The political adviser said Rift Valley was a vital region that the Uhuru could not afford to snub when invited procedurally. He said the President has plans to soon visit the region to address key issues affecting residents.

Invitations to both functions were reportedly communicated to the President including by the Deputy President. Uhuru reportedly excused himself saying he had other prior engagements.

Yesterday Uhuru met a delegation from the US Senate and Congress.

Nandi politician Vincent Tuwei said Uhuru’s failure to attend key events in the region was giving him a bad political image.

He blamed some regional leaders of monopolising the President and dictating when he should visit.

“Uhuru should not be held hostage by politicians in Rift valley who are selfish and do nothing to help residents of Rift Valley,” said Tuwei.

During yesterday’s event in Kapsabet there was no mention of Uhuru or a presidential message read by the DP.

A director of the Kenya Farmers Association, Kipkorir Menjo, said farmers have key demands that they want Uhuru’s government to address.

“Key among our demands is funding to the agriculture sector. If the government wants to avoid problems with farmers every year, it should comply with the Maputo Declaration which requires governments to allocate ten percent of their budgets to the sector,” said Menjo.

The Patron of the North Rift Youth Forum, Hezekiah Kosgey, and Nandi youth leader Joseph Kosgey asked why the president is not attending key events in the region.

"We are wondering if there is a deliberate move by someone to keep Uhuru away from Rift Valley, or if he is avoiding the region," said Kosgey.

He said Uhuru's visit had been well publicized but they were then informed that the president had not been invited.

"We have to be told the truth because we voted for Uhuru and he has to address challenges facing farmers, youth and other matters in this region," said Kosgey.

The political temperature has been rising in the region because of differences between Ruto and some key politicians as well as disagreements between the URP and TNA parties over their their future under the JAP coalition.

Some URP leaders like Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto are against closing URP and merging with TNA to form the Jubilee Alliance Party as the election vehicle for Uhuru and Ruto in the 2017 election.

Also causing discomfort is the recent crackdown on corruption which heavily affected close allies of the Deputy President.

- See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/uhuru-snubs-two-ruto-rift-invites#sthash.g1osH2cJ.SvYkWtXJ.dpuf