Your noise will not scare us, Ruto tells rebels

KERICHO: Deputy President William Ruto has told his critics in the Rift Valley to stop trying to teach him his job.

Mr Ruto spoke as the battle for the Kericho Senate seat intensified, with Kanu accusing the Jubilee coalition of violating electoral laws by engaging civil servants in campaigns.

The DP, who is battling a rebellion in the Rift Valley by forces opposed to the merger of Jubilee-allied parties and who feel the region especially south Rift has been shortchanged by Government, termed his critics as selfish and out to divide the country along tribal and regional lines.

He said the Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) candidate in the upcoming Kericho senatorial race will garner over 90 per cent of votes cast.

"We hear some people trying to lecture us on how to run this Government. We want to remind them that we are in charge and they will not scare us," he said.

Speaking at Poroko Secondary School in Trans Mara West sub-county yesterday, Ruto said only JAP can unite Kenyans. He urged locals to ignore those criss-crossing the region campaigning for other parties.

Kanu's candidate for the Kericho Senate seat Paul Sang and his campaign team have questioned the involvement of Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter in the campaigns for Jubilee candidate Aaron Cheruiyot, terming this a violation of the Constitution.

The Constitution bars public servants from taking an active role in politics.

But Mr Keter dismissed the claims, saying he attended the Jubilee rallies as a member of the party and not as a Cabinet secretary and that the seat belonged to him before he was appointed to Cabinet.

"We cannot form Government then leave it to go to the opposition to pursue mirages," Ruto said.

He told the Opposition to prepare for an overwhelming defeat. Ruto reiterated that Jubilee Party's commitment to unite Kenyans was unstoppable, adding that parties founded on outdated sectional or tribal lines will be vanquished.

"That is the reason why all Jubilee affiliate parties are uniting ahead of the 2017 General Election," he added.

And in Nyandarua earlier yesterday, Jubilee MPs rallied support for the Deputy President, saying they will not allow a few dissenters to reduce him to a regional politician.

The MPs said those who were backing Sang were spoiling the votes for the Government.

The MPs included Ferdinard Waititu (Kabete), Katoo ole Metito (Oloitokitok), Mburu Kinyanjui (Kinangop), David Kiaraho (Olkalau), Samuel Gichigi (Kipipiri), John Kihagi(Naivasha), Wanjiku Muhiu (Woman Representative) and Senator Muriuki Karue.

Mr Metito, who is the Jubilee chief whip, cautioned supporters against being misled to join small fringe parties that were out to spoil for the Government. The MPs urged Kericho residents to back the JAP candidate in next month's mini polls. They said they would rally support for Ruto in the 2022 General Election.

Additional reporting by DPPS