KANU TO SPONSOR GIDEON TO RUN FOR PRESIDENCY IN 2017

Nairobi. Political tension in the Rift Valley region has heightened with the recent announcement by Kanu that it will sponsor Gideon Moi, the Baringo Senator, to run for the top seat.

Before the dust could settle, Council of Governors chairman Isaac Ruto accused Deputy President William Ruto of undermining him in his Bomet county and declaring he, too, would run for the top seat.

And on Sunday, the Deputy President issued a withering broadside at a rally in Kapkatet, Kericho, saying that Kalenjin politicians not singing his tune will be kicked out in the next election.

The Bomet Governor has time and again accused the Deputy President of funding his political rivals, who include MPs and a number of Ward Representatives, to destabilise his administration with a view to having him impeached.

Mr Isaac Ruto made the sensational claims twice this week in tough statements against his once bosom buddy now turned foe. “I’m aware of a plot by politicians sponsored by the Deputy President, to have me impeached as Bomet governor.”

He added: “The Deputy President is sponsoring chaos and wrangles all over the place, including the disagreement over the location of a public university to be built by Moi University in Bomet County.”

“If the leaders in the National Government continue to sponsor squabbles in the counties, and especially in Rift Valley, then we shall be left with no option but to kick them out of the South Rift region,” he went on.

The Deputy President, who was addressing a fundraising meeting, wondered why a few leaders in the South Rift were opposed to the government and called on them to stop “politicking and talking too much”.

“This is our government and we must come together and build the nation. We must learn to work together or fail in all our plans. Instead of grumbling, why don’t you talk to me and tell me what you need?” he said.

Mr Ruto praised residents of Kericho, Bomet and Narok counties for staying in the Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) and warned local leaders to follow suit or risk being dropped in the next election.

“Wananchi seem to know where we are going and leaders who don’t know will remain behind. In 2017, we will support President Kenyatta and then plan for our own entry to State House in 2022,” he declared.

MPs from the region turned the heat on Isaac Ruto and branded him a traitor and a sellout for allegedly undermining the Deputy President. The MPs claimed the governor was out to frustrate efforts to place Mr Ruto in State House in 2022.