MCAS VOW TO IMPEACH ISAAC RUTO AS RIFT LEADERS CALL FOR UNITY

MCAS VOW TO IMPEACH ISAAC RUTO AS RIFT LEADERS CALL FOR UNITY

Cracks in Rift Valley politics appeared to widen yesterday after members of the Bomet County Assembly threatened to impeach Governor Isaac Ruto over alleged corruption. This came even as leaders allied to Deputy President William Ruto called on the region’s leaders to stay united ahead of 2017 polls. The MCAs vowed to table an impeachment motion against the governor for what they termed as grand corruption in his administration. However, 15 Jubilee legislators from the region called for unity. The legislators who included 13 MPs and two senators warned that the community would lose its political clout in the country if it continued with divisive politics. Led by Kericho Senator Charles Keter and his Elgeyo Marakwet counterpart Kipchumba Murkomen, the legislators said the political temperature was on the rise because some leaders were dividing the community for personal interests. “As a community, we should forge ahead united to remain relevant in the political scene. Those criticising the DP should stop and back him for the top seat,” said Keter. But the MCAs, led by the Bomet Assembly Deputy Speaker Joyce Korir, Kapletundo MCA Bernard Ngeno, Beatrice Langat (Chepsoen) and John Ngetich (Kipsonoi) appeared to be reading from a different script after they insisted on impeaching the governor. See also: MCAs give nod to new security measures “The Sh75 million the assembly set aside for the youths, Sh55 million which was meant for women empowerment, Sh10 million which was meant for the construction of tea buying centres and Sh10 million for people with disabilities is nowhere to be seen,” said Korir. The deputy speaker added that an additional Sh69 million from the Transitional Authority, which was meant for the construction of the assembly buildings could also not be accounted for. The pressure on the governor heightened after four MPs joined the calls asking him to step aside. The MPs asked Ruto to heed President Uhuru Kenyatta’s call on those who have been mentioned in a report by the Ethics and Anti- Corruption Commission to step aside to allow investigations into the cases. SUPPORT DP Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso and Senator Wilfred Lessan wondered why Ruto was not keen on clearing his name. The leaders who were speaking in Bomet over the weekend said the governor had been given a chance to clarify certain issues and should take up the opportunity. “Bomet has an able deputy governor and there will be no leadership vacuum in the county. Let the governor face the anti-graft body and answer questions that have been raised,” said Laboso.
But on Saturday, Murkomen asked the Kalenjin community to rally behind the DP and help him ascend to the presidency in 2022, saying divisive politics was bad for the community and the country. “There are leaders who want to ensure there is division among us for political expediency but they must know they are doomed because they will fail,” he said. The senator was among 15 legislators who spoke at Sambirir Girls in Marakwet East during a fundraiser for construction of a tuition block at the institution. Others who attended the fundraiser included MPs Joseph Limo (Kipkelion), Julius Melly (Tinderet), Jackson Kiptanui (Keiyo South), Kangogo Bowen (Marakwet East), William Kisang (Marakwet West) Silas Tiren (Moiben), Cornelly Melly (Tinderet), William Cheptumo (Baringo North), Alfred Keter (Nandi Hills) Trans Nzoia Woman Rep Janet Nangabo and area governor Alex Tolgos. They said they will rally their community to support the DP once President Kenyatta finishes his term. “As a community, we shall support the DP in clinching the presidency because he has been tried and tested as a seasoned leader,” said Cheptumo. See also: MCAs give nod to new security measures Myoot Kipsigis Council of Elders called on the DP and the Bomet governor to end the ongoing war of words. The council’s chairman Paul Leleito said they were alarmed and saddened by the ‘shameful’ political battle and war of words between the two leaders. “The wrangling being witnessed among the leaders must end. As elders, we cannot sit back and allow the leaders to divert from their main task of serving the country to concentrate on politics of hatred and division,” said Leleito. —Reporting by Nikko Tanui, Fred Kibor, Charles Ngeno and Gilbert Kimutai.