Ruto blames the State for failing to control skirmishes

By Sammy Jakaa

United Republican Party presidential aspirant William Ruto has blamed the Government for not acting tough on perpetrators of the skirmishes in Tana River.

The Eldoret North MP said the security agencies have failed, adding they have not controlled the clashes that have claimed 110 lives.

Speaking in Amukura area of Teso South, during the burial of the father of Busia County URP chairman Vincent Okochil, Mr Ruto said it was sad for innocent Kenyans to continue losing lives in the Tana Delta yet security agencies are well equipped to prevent such attacks.

Act quickly

He put the NSIS, Provincial Administration and the Police Service on the spot saying they had failed to contain the situation yet they had the capacity to gather intelligence.

 “We have the NSIS, Provincial Administration and police force who are well trained and capable of understanding the main problem in the area yet they are quiet.

We want them to prove to us that they are able to provide security,” said Ruto.

He urged heads of all the security agencies to act quickly and stop further clashes.

“If the Government cannot tell us what is happening then somebody must be sleeping on the job,” added Ruto.

He further faulted the formation of a commission by Cabinet to look into the clashes, saying it was unnecessary. “Security agencies can adequately deal with the situation and not through commissions,” he said.

On Thursday, Cabinet approved the formation of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to look into the clashes and report back within 30 days. The clashes have also left thousands of families displaced from their homesteads.

The MP also took issue with the new NHIF rates, saying the Ministry of Medical Services should have negotiated with the relevant stakeholders to come up with a friendlier scheme.

“It is unfortunate that some Kenyans are still dying of treatable diseases due to improper cover and yet we want to ask them to pay for more. It is not right,” said Ruto.