BY AMOS KERICH
Bomet Governor Isaac Rutto is to blame for a recent war of words with the DP, that painted the Kalenjin in bad light, the community's elders have said.
The elders from Kuresoi North constituency, Nakuru county, said the governor was disrespectful to "anointed leader" Deputy President William Ruto
The DP and the governor engaged in the war of words last Saturday during a fundraiser in aid of Joyful Women Organisation.
Trouble started when Rutto asked the DP to stop leaders from insulting him, saying it would widen the gap in Rift Valley politics, before the 2017 general election.
He was shouted down by hecklers, who also broke into song, after which he threatened to walk out of the meeting.
"We do not want nonsense here. We are asking you, the national government, let us respect each other," he said.
In response, Ruto said he was home, and that the meeting would not be brought to an end over minor threats.
Samuel Yebei, who led the elders, told the press in Kuresoi; “We strongly condemn the arrogance of Bomet Governor Isaac Rutto towards the Deputy President."
"It is publicly known that we as the community have only one anointed person to take the leadership mantle and we wonder why Governor Rutto is chest-thumping."
Yebei called for unity amid "turbulence" in the region, saying; "If we continue boxing, we will be abandoned".
The elders said internal discord should not be displayed in public, but "secretly" solved, as other communities do.
They further warned Rutto and Baringo Senator Gideon Moi against campaigning across the country while the community's "kingpin" faces ICC charges.
They said this would amount to malice and celebration of the crimes against humanity charges against the DP and his co-accused journalist Joshua Sang.
Elder Kennedy Too asked all Kalenjin sub-tribes to urgently convene a meeting to discuss disciplinary action against "insolent" leaders, "to prevent further bedeviling of the community".
“We call upon the Kalenjin Myoot council of elders from all the sub-tribes to quickly call a meeting to discuss the way forward and cut off the enmity which is taking root," he said.
Yebei said on the agenda would be "the behavior of some MPs, who have painted Deputy President William Ruto badly in public, and started campaigning to out-stage him in the upcoming election."
"Elders should discuss this and warn them because if this continues our unity is in danger,” he said.
Kipkorir Bett said Rutto was elected to lead Bomet, not to keep "combating William, who has the mandate to tour every part of this country without seeking permission".
“We have seen upcoming leaders, who started by chest-thumping, failing. If Isaac still has ambitions to lead Bomet, and even climb ladders of leadership, he must learn to respect other people. He was supposed to warmly welcome the DP, instead of threatening to end the meeting,” he said.
Kuresoi North youth leader Edward Bett asked the community to pray for the termination of the ICC charges, and the government to send AG Githu Muigai to challenge the use of recanted witnesses statements.
The admission of "faulty evidence" amounts to denial of justice, he said.
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