Calls by some Rift Valley politicians to have Deputy President William Ruto contest the presidency in the 2017 General Election continue to elicit heated debate in the region.
A group of legislators have called on the DP to go it alone in 2017, claiming that there was no guarantee he will get support from Mt Kenya region in 2022.
Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter, Zakayo Cheruiyot (Kuresoi) and Elijah Lagat (Chesumei) insist that Mr Ruto stands a higher chance in the next General Election than in the subsequent one.
Mr Keter says there is no guarantee that the region will go with the Jubilee coalition in 2017, pointing out that coalitions are not permanent but economic interests are.
"We will assess and analyse the performance of the Jubilee alliance between 2013 and 2017 in terms of our economic interests and decide whether to support it or seek other options," said Mr Keter.
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"We are in Jubilee because of the economic interests between United Republican Party (URP) and The National Alliance (TNA). If we are not satisfied, we can seek other partners," he added.
Personal ambition
In a telephone interview yesterday, Keter said of interest in the assessment of Jubilee was agricultural activities, employment opportunities, infrastructure, education and how devolution has been handled.
"We had a deal to address dairy, cereals, tea, roads, employment, education and devolution and after assessing performance and how the interests have been protected, we have options that can include holding on, reorganising, seeking an alternative or quitting," said Keter.
The URP legislator said the Government was "mishandling agricultural activities" and that if the sector is not addressed, then they will opt out.
And Mr Cheruiyot says he wished the DP well in his personal ambition to lead the county because it was his democratic right.
"Who knows what the future has in store? I wish him well in his personal ambition. All I care for is the state of the economy, which is in a shambles and a disaster in the South Rift region," Cheruiyot told The Standard Monday.
But another group of legislators in the region are opposed to the idea of the Deputy President taking on his boss President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2017.
The MPs, led by Kericho Senator Charles Keter, held three meetings in Nakuru and Baringo counties on Sunday and took the opportunity to castigate those pushing for Ruto's presidency.
Senator Keter, who represented the DP at two fund-raisers in Nakuru Town West constituency on Sunday, said Ruto was not under any pressure to contest in 2017.
"If anyone feels that he can take on President Uhuru Kenyatta, let him come out and do so instead of trying to divide the Jubilee coalition through propaganda," Mr Keter told a crowd at Mogoon Secondary School.
The senator said URP and TNA were on the verge of their merger to form the Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) that will be President Kenyatta's and Ruto's re-election vehicle in 2017.
He was accompanied by legislators Samuel Arama (Nakuru Town West), Moses Cheboi (Kuresoi North) and David Gikaria of Nakuru Town East.
The senator said Ruto would support President Kenyatta so that he completes his two terms and then take a stab at the presidency in 2022.
Mr Cheboi said President Kenyatta was assured of the Kalenjin support in 2017 but urged voters from Central Kenya to be ready to reciprocate in 2022.
"I can guarantee the President that the Kalenjin will be fully behind him in 2017 and it is our hope and belief that Ruto will get similar support in 2022," he said.
No conditions
Mr Gikaria said the agreement between the President and his deputy for the 2017 and 2022 general elections would stand despite mechanisms by some leaders who want to cast doubt on it.
"The President and his deputy will be together in 2017 and 2022. No one should have doubts about their political strategy and the future of the Jubilee coalition," he said.
Similar sentiments were voiced by Baringo County MPs Moses Lessonet (Eldama Ravine), William Cheptumo of Baringo North, Baringo Woman Representative Grace Kiptui as well as Nyeri's Priscilla Nyokabi and Marakwet West MP William Kisang.
The leaders said the support President Uhuru enjoys in the Rift Valley has no conditions attached to it.
Mr Lessonet said voters in Rift Valley know the arrangement URP and TNA have concerning the presidency and that Ruto would never back down from supporting President Kenyatta in 2017.
"Our plan as the Jubilee coalition in 2017 is as clear today as it was in 2013. We will rally behind President Kenyatta until he completes his second term in office then we expect our brothers and sisters from Central Kenya to do the same in 2022," he said.
Lessonet said this when he hosted National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi in Eldama Ravine constituency for a ground-breaking ceremony and fund-raiser for Uzalendo Academy.
Ms Nyokabi assured voters in the region the Deputy President will get full support of voters from Central Kenya come 2022, dismissing claims that the region would renege on an agreement between URP and TNA.
