Ruto row with Raila explodes

By Vincent Bartoo and Peter Atsiaya

ODM deputy leader William Ruto went ballistic, playing hardball by taking his boss Raila Odinga head-on, as he returned to his grassroots base without a ministerial flag. Speaking at his first public rally since he was suspended from Cabinet, Ruto launched a scathing attack on Raila, alleging the Prime Minister was undermining elected Kalenjin leaders.

As he spoke, Raila was also in the South Rift at Kipkelion in the morning, when he met local leaders. He was also in Ruto’s backyard in Kapsabet, in the afternoon for a similar assignment. Ruto continued his onslaught on Raila accusing him of planting leaders in Rift Valley against the will of the people.

"Others think they can plant leaders here like they do in their home turf. It is impossible. That is a dream," he said.

The former minister said he had engaged in many political battles and won them, describing his suspension as one of the many passing clouds.

"What I can tell you for sure is that my hands are clean," he said.

He also appeared to suggest that the political destiny of the electorate in Rift Valley is no longer ODM.

Ruto said: "We know where we are going and how we will get there. This time, we are not gambling or guessing". Raila has been on a mission to woo back the Kalenjin electorate after his falling out with Ruto.

A visibly bitter Ruto came out fighting while exuding confidence by declaring that his tribulations were "simply a passing cloud".

Speaking in his first public meeting since his suspension, Ruto took issue with Raila’s forays in Rift Valley. Last week, the PM held consultative meetings with locals on the new Constitution in Kericho a week ago, and in Kapsabet yesterday.

"There are those loitering here trying to teach us how to implement the new Constitution. We are not fools to be taught, we have read and understood it," Ruto said.

As he spoke, Raila was addressing more than 100 councillors drawn from Kericho and Bomet counties at Londiani Forestry College. He assured the civic leaders their jobs were secure under the new Constitution.

"The Ministry of Local Government has finalised drafting the Bill, which was set to be published by yesterday (Friday), before being tabled to the Cabinet for approval," the PM said.

He said once the Cabinet approves the Bill it would be tabled before Parliament for debate. The PM said he was optimistic MPs would eventually establish sub-counties to be run by civic leaders once they pass the Bill.

The PM, who was in Kipkelion constituency to officiate at the ground breaking for the construction of Londiani-Fort Ternan-Muhoroni road in Londiani town, said the Government would also set up a task force to look into the creation of the proposed sub-counties.

Turbulent waters

On Thursday, Ruto left the Ministry of Higher Education, promising he would return. He said he has gone through such turbulent waters and was not a stranger to what he was facing.

Yesterday, the Eldoret North MP said Rift Valley had set in motion plans to implement the new Constitution at the grassroots, and they do not need advice from politicians.

Ruto said leaders had set in motion plans to implement the new Constitution at the grassroots.

"Wengine wanafikiri hatuna mipango ya katiba. Kazi yao ni hadithi, vitendawili na historia tu (Others think we don’t have our plans on the new Constitution. Their job is just to tell stories and parables)," said Ruto.

He said time was already up for leaders who wanted others to play sycophant. "We cannot allow people to push and intimidate us so that they can sit on us. They should try this elsewhere," he said.

He was speaking in Keiyo South yesterday where he was chief guest during the launch of the constituency strategic plan. In Nandi County, Raila made an inference to the Ruto saga and told Kenyans to stop politicising action taken against Government officers. Raila said it was wrong for people to start claiming certain politicians are being finished politically.

"Wacheni kusema eti mwanasiasa fulani amekwisha. Amekwisha wapi? (Stop saying that some politicians are finished. How are they finished?)," said Raila. The Prime Minister said that politicians are never finished politically and those giving a perception that some of the politicians are finished are misleading Kenyans.

Raila held a leaders’ meeting at the residence of the Nandi Central DC in Kapsabet before proceeding to Kipchoge Keino Stadium, where he addressed a public rally.

Cabinet Ministers Henry Kosgey (Industrialisation), Sally Kosgei (Agriculture), James Orengo (Lands), and Franklin Bett (Roads), Assistant Minister, Magerer Langat, and Beatrice Kones, former MPs John Sambu, Samuel Ng’eny, Uasin Gishu ODM politician Jackson Kibor accompanied Raila. Ruto was accompanied by area MP Jackson Kiptanui, Linah Kilimo (Marakwet East), Moses Lesonet (Eldama Ravine), Lucas Chepkitony (Keiyo North), and Benjamin Lang’at (Ainamoi).

Others included Kalenjin council of elders chairman Maj (Rtd) John Seii, and Keiyo South ODM chairman Micah Kigen. Kiptanui supported Ruto saying he was a victim of the scheme, saying he was sacked despite the two principals assuring that no one would be victimised for opposing the new Constitution.

"When debate and campaign on the new Constitution was opened, President Kibaki and Raila publicly stated that no minister or Government official would be punished for opposing the document. But the end results was my sacking after the document was passed," Kiptanui said.

Ruto remained non-committal when Lang’at, who first said that Kalenjins had abandoned ODM, prodded him and asked Ruto to show direction. Lesonet told Ruto to start looking for a formidable running mate, saying his chances of ascending to the presidency were high.