By Antony Gitonga
Eldoret North MP William Ruto now says former President Moi and Heritage Minister William Ole Ntimama should answer questions over the Mau Forest conflict.
Mr Ruto said the two should be held responsible for the Mau impasse that saw people settled there and later evicted.
"When Mau was being distributed, I was in school and Moi and Ntimama, who were working together, can answer these questions better," Rutosaid.
He exonerated himself from the Mau issue but was quick to add that all those living in forests should be moved out and compensated.
The presidential hopeful hit out at Prime Minister Raila Odinga over the Mau eviction, saying it was never about environment but political persecution.
"The issue has now turned into political seduction with some people using the resettlement issue to get votes," said Ruto at Enesampulai Primary in Narok County during a harambee in aid of the school.
He lashed out at the PM saying that he was obsessed by politics of division at the expense of development.
"We are now in UDM party to stay after learning that there is no democracy in ODM which failed to live to its promise," said Ruto.
UDM Secretary Seneral Martin Kamwaro, who was the host, said the party would openly conduct elections when picking their presidential candidate.
Kamwaro, who is seeking the Governor’s seat in Narok County, dismissed ODM saying that it had given members of the Maasai community a raw deal.
"We supported ODM and we were even promised a livestock policy but all this turned out to be lies but under Ruto and UDM things will change," he said.
Present during the meeting were Ainamoi MP Benjamin Langat, former House Speaker Francis Ole Kaparo and former MP Omingo Magara.
Lang’at said those behind the Mau issue were well known and the blame lay squarely on them.
