Battle to control pockets of Rift heats up with eye on 2017 prize

Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto’s return from South Africa where he had gone to seek treatment for an injury sustained following a confrontation with police, and angry demonstrations among rival groups in Narok County, have underlined the emerging political tensions in regions in which Jubilee is seeking to exert its influence.

In Bomet, the battle between anti-establishment Governor Ruto and pro-Jubilee Joyce Laboso has resulted in numerous clashes between their supporters.

In the most vicious engagement the governor was teargassed by police at a football match in Silibwet, disrupting a tournament organised by Dr Laboso, the county’s Deputy Speaker,.

Ruto has accused the police of harassing his Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM) supporters on several occasions, and noted that in two incidents, 50 boda-boda operator were arrested on spurious grounds and were identified because they were wearing CCM-branded T-shirts.

“Five youths were arrested for wearing reflectors with CCM. Even in Mashujaa Day it was same issue . . . over 64 youths were arrested,” Governor Bomet said at the time.

He has repeatedly accused the Jubilee administration of funding demonstrations to disrupt his functions, and says these disturbances began when he first clashed with Deputy President William Ruto over the location of the proposed a university in Bomet.

But Laboso sees the confrontations as brinkmanship orchestrated for political capital, and says she would be a more unifying leader.

“The people of Bomet should say No to leaders who disrespect others and instigate violence and this is why I am seeking election . . . so that such violence can be brought to an end,” Laboso said.

In Narok County, Governor Samuel Tunai’s perennial confrontations with Narok West MP Patrick Ole Ntutu have often resulted in cat calls between their supporters.

Their latest disagreement revolves around the opening of Jubilee Party (JP) offices in the county. Ntutu, who has announced that he will seek JP’s nomination to vie for the Narok governorship, recently opened a party office in Kilgoris where he asked the incumbent governor to brace himself for battle.

Governor Tunai also opened a party office along Nyawera Road in Narok Town which is the county headquarters.

The event was attended by two legislators — Narok East MP Lemanken Aramat and his Kilgoris counterpart Gideon Konchella — and the symbolism was not lost on Ntutu who immediately complained that other leaders were excluded, and said he would open a branch office on his own.

The legislator has been keen to point out that the numerous fundraisers presided over by governor Tunai have not significantly contributed to economic progress and has in fact taken issue with where the funds that are donated are sourced from.

“Salaries of most governors is about Sh650,000 per month but it raises eyebrows that some governors are dishing up to Sh15 million every week. The money is not for development but for political reasons,” said Ntutu. Tunai has been quick to outline his four-year development record and says his singular achievement has been to unite local people.
“My objective was to unite all communities, clans within Narok and that is the difference between me and the others,” said Tunai.

- Additional reporting by Gilbert Kimutai