Discontent over JAP as Uhuru tours Bomet

President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to tour Bomet County tomorrow amid rising anxiety in South Rift over the prospect of a split in the United Republican Party (URP) - a key partner in the Jubilee coalition.

The anxiety is more about whether the populous Kipsigis - would stay behind Deputy President William Ruto and support the newly formed Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) or join rebels led by Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto - a fierce critic of the Jubilee administration.

Some leaders argue the President may use the visit to assure voters in the region that the Jubilee coalition is intact and seek support for JAP.

“The anxiety is manifest not in what the Jubilee administration has done or not done for people in the region but in what the President will or will not say about politics and the future of the coalition,” said Jonathan Rono, a local URP official.

But five legislators from the region aligned to the DP have dismissed claims that President Kenyatta’s visit was aimed at taming the rebel governor and a section of leaders opposed to JAP.

Governor Ruto, too, has made it cleat that he will not antagonise the president’s first to the county since he ascended to power.

“The county leadership is in agreement that sideshows and political bickering would not be entertained during the presidential function as the Head of State must be accorded the respect he deserves by the leaders and the electorate,” said Mr Ruto.

The Council of Governors chairman said the national and county governments are working together to ensure the president’s visit is successful.

“The electorate in Bomet County voted for the President almost to a man in the last General Election and the Head of State is welcome to have a conversation with the county leadership and the people and to propagate ideals of the Jubilee administration,” Ruto said.

Major issues

The president will preside over a funds drive for construction of a regional office for the AGC church.
He has previously toured neighbouring counties of Kericho, Narok, Kisii, Nakuru and Nyamira but twice skipped Bomet.

Governor Ruto and the local MPs – Ronald Tonui (Bomet Central), Joyce Laboso (Sotik), Paul Bii (Chepalungu), Sammy Koech (Konoin), Bernard Bett (Bomet East), Bomet Women Rep Cecilia Ngetich and Senator Wilfred Lessan have been embroiled in political spats over myriad issues.

Mr Lessan said voters in the region were fully behind the Jubilee government and they have embraced JAP, which the president and his deputy will use to seek re-election in 2017.

“We will use JAP to unite Kenyans of goodwill and as a ticket to run for the presidency in 2017,” he said.

His sentiments were echoed by the MPs who said the visit was planned several months ago and added that the residents are eagerly awaiting for the president and his deputy.

Though this will be a church function, the leaders said they have requested the leadership to allow them present to the president some burning issues affecting the locals.

“The university issue will be major and we want the president and his deputy to address it. There is need to fast tract establishment of an institution of higher learning in Bomet,” said Ms Laboso.

She added that they will ask the two leaders to offer a lasting solution to the Mau and the IDP issues at Chebugen camp.

KENYATTA’S SUCCESS

Laboso said the president may also use the opportunity to call for unity among warring county leaders.

“I believe the president will be keen to see that the leaders talk with one voice. Devolution has not borne much fruits in Bomet because there has been too much talk,” she said.

Mr Tonui and Mr Bett said on agriculture, the locals will be looking forward to hear what the government is doing about the poor tea prices and high cost of fertiliser.

“Agriculture being the county’s mainstay we would expect the president to tell us something about the tea prices, high cost of fertiliser and what the government is doing about the maize disease,” said Tonui.

Although the leaders allied to the DP have stated they would not engage in local politics, burning issues like the recent eviction of families from Mau forest, their stand on JAP and President Kenyatta’s success will likely play out during the meeting.

“As much as they have pledged to set aside their political differences, it is highly likely that the underlying political issues might feature during the visit,” said Symon arap Namba, a political commentator.

Bett said they will also raise issues on road infrastructure which is one of Jubilee’s flagship.

“This will be a litmus test for those dismissing calls to join JAP. The turnout will be a clear indication that those not in JAP will miss the train,” said Bett.

Tonui said the governor does not need to be tamed and called for political maturity from all leaders.
However, Kuresoi South MP Zakayo Cheruiyot, who held a meeting in Tinet area of Nakuru County on Wednesday, maintains that JAP was not the idea of the people and leaders of the Rift Valley.

He warns that politicians from the region risk being political slaves of The National Alliance party.

Mr Cheruiyot, who has joined Kericho Governor Paul Chepkwony and Governor Ruto in opposing JAP, said the new party was the brainchild of TNA, which he alleged wants to swallow URP to control the region’s votes.