ODM WAR CONTINUES

Several Rift Valley ODM MPs including Agriculture Minister William Ruto will host President Kibaki at the Eldoret agricultural show.

Kibaki will open the Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) show today, and Mr Ruto is expected at the event since it falls under his docket.

It is not clear whether Prime Minister Raila Odinga will attend since his name is not on the programme.

"We will be there in large numbers to welcome the Head of State to Eldoret and we will do it in style," an ODM MP from the region said yesterday.

The MP who did not wish to be named said the President enjoys a cordial relationship with the local leaders and residents.

"It is obvious the PM has lost political footing in the region owing to serious errors of omission and commission," he added.

Yesterday, Ruto was the chief guest on the first day of the show, today it will be the President, while Livestock Minister Mohamed Kuti will grace the occasion tomorrow.

Eldoret Mayor William Rono will close the show on Saturday. It will be the first time the President travels to North Rift, weeks after reversing the suspension of Education Minister Sam Ongeri and Ruto by the Prime Minister.

Local leaders led by a director with the Kenya Farmers Association, Mr Kipkorir Menjo and Mr Jonathan Bii, yesterday urged Kibaki to address the problems facing the region.

"Problems in the dairy sector is a key issue the President should address as farmers are incurring huge losses due to a milk glut," said Menjo.

PM rally

Kibaki’s visit coincides with Raila’s tour of the region where he will open a business premise associated with ODM chairman and Industrialisation Minister Henry Kosgey.

Raila will then address a rally at Ziwa, a political hot spot in Eldoret North constituency, in what is seen as taking a political shot at Ruto’s turf.

"It is surprising the PM is touring the region for political rallies at a time the President is officiating at the ASK show," another MP said.

But during a morning radio talk show on Monday, Ruto told North Rift residents to welcome the PM.

"When I went to Kisumu recently, the residents gave me a rousing welcome. I was not shouted at. I want my people to welcome the PM in my constituency the same way," he said.

Ruto and his allies are expected to skip the PM’s visit. The PM will hold another rally in Marakwet where one of his critics, Co-operatives Assistant Minister Jebii Kilimo, hails from.

Initially, Raila was to tour the region from today, but slight changes were made on the itinerary so as not to clash with the President’s visit.

Raila and Ruto’s political differences have been fuelled by the eviction of families from Mau Forest, treatment of post-election violence suspects by the Government and the goings on in the maize scandal.

Ruto, who is also ODM deputy party leader, defied Raila when he ‘suspended’ him over the maize scandal.