Leaders defect to Kanu as anti-Ruto protest grows in Rift

Kanu chairman Gideon Moi (in black hat) leads other leaders in a campaign rally in support of the party‘s candidate in the Kericho senatorial by-election Paul Sang at Kapkatet grounds in Kericho County yesterday. [PHOTO:BONIFACE THUKU/STANDARD

KERICHO: The cross-over of two more leaders from Jubilee to Kanu a few days after Deputy President William Ruto received a dressing down from party supporters signalled the ruling coalition’s flagging fortunes with just weeks before the Kericho by-election.

Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi and former Kipkelion MP Magerer Langat  announced at separate rallies that they would be leaving  Jubilee on account of discrimination in the allocation of  State jobs. 

Speaking during the burial of  Paul Maru, a Kenya Defence Forces officer   who was killed when their military camp was attacked by Al Shabaab militants in El Adde, Somalia, Mr Sudi said he would join a rival party in protest

“We voted for the Jubilee Coalition expecting equal treatment like our counterparts from President Uhuru Kenyatta’s party, but it is currently not so,” he told mourners in Chepkoiyo in his Kapseret Constituency.

And at the historic Kapkatet stadium, about 10,000 Kericho county residents turned up  to show support for Paul Sang, the Kanu candidate in the Kericho Senate by-elections slated for March 7.

The residents led by prominent  Rift Valley leaders  said  Kanu  had began a movement  that would take the  senate seat from Jubilee.

Strong candidate

Four Senators—Gideon Moi (Baringo), Stephen Ntutu (Narok), John Lonyagapuo (Pokot West), Zipporah Kittony (Nominated) — and Bomet governor Isaac Ruto attended the function. Others present were Members of Parliament Alfred Keter (Nandi Hills), Johana Ngeno (Emurua-Dikir) and Hellen Sambili (Mogotio).  

Former Kipkelion MP Magerer Langat used the opportunity to defect to Kanu and was received   by Gideon.

Speaker after speaker  criticisesd the Jubilee government and  used the opportunity to tell the DP that he had let them down. Ng’eno said those who had benefited were kin of  the DP’s associates.

 Prof Lonyangapuo said Jubilee’s loss in the Nyongores ward by-election last week was an indication that the ruling coalition could again lose in the Kericho senate by-election.

Lonyangapuo, Ntutu and Kittony dismissed Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) Candidate Aaron Cheruiyot as “too young” to be elected as a senator.

Said Lonyagapuo: “I am one of the best performing senators and what I know is that senate requires someone who is mature and experienced. No other candidate has these qualities other than Sang who has not only served as Bureti Member of Parliament but also as health assistant minister.”

Lonyagapuo said Kericho people should not be blackmailed into supporting Jubilee.

“West Pokot is in Kanu and they have been coming there to develop the region,”   he said.

He said any government is obligated to work for the people regardless of the parties their leaders are in.

Kanu chairman Gideon Moi said the by-election was in preparation for 2017 General Elections and that the Kalenjin community should liberate itself from servitude of leaders.  

Gideon, who is also Baringo County Senator, said community leadership should not be used for the benefit of few individuals but should benefit the entire community.

“Leadership is about the people and not the government. I hear people pleading that vote for Jubilee government. No. You need your senator and not a  government senator,” said Gideon.

Gideon said Sang was the strongest candidate for the senate given his experience as a leader who served the country and residents of Bureti with dedication.

“Kanu cannot gamble with the lives of the people it serves. We chose Sang because he is a mature leader,” he said.

Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto criticised the DP and  said he had stopped consulting leaders since his election.

“We will not accept people to force decisions down our throats,” he said

in reference claims that the region would be sidelined by the government if it does not elect JAP candidate Aaron Cheruiyot.

Nandi Hills MP Keter said  Kericho should stand with Kanu to protest against nepotism.

“People cannot be employing their cousins then pretend to be remorseful and also ask you to vote in another cousin,” he said in reference to reports  that Cheruiyot was related to former Kericho senator Charles Keter.

 “They will not have the courage to confront the injustices by the Jubilee administration because they owe their positions to them,” he said.

“The mandate of elected leaders is serve the people and not the government. The government of the day has the provincial administration on the ground and you should not be lied to that you need a senator for Jubilee,” said Keter.

 Sang listed development projects he had initiated when he served an MP.

“My track record speaks for itself and it demonstrates that I am not a corrupt leader. My only aim is to ensure that devolution is a success and public funds are protected,” he said.

The Kanu candidate said his rival  had been imposed on residents.

On Tuesday, the DP  publicly apologised to local residents  over the   government’s delays to implement major development projects in the South Rrift region.

 And speaking yesterday, the DP promised to meet rebel URP leaders to hear their concerns.  Speaking at Ngiito secondary school where he opened  classrooms,  the DP  said Rift Valley leaders opposed to Jubilee were out to divide the Kalenjin along regional blocs.

 Mr Ruto, who was received by Narok Governor Samul Ole Tunai, Narok West MP Patrick Ntutu and his Narok South Counterpart Korei Ole Lemein, maintained that the merger to form Jubilee Party was on course.

  “I am ready to meet with these leaders who are fighting me face to face. I want them to tell me where the problem is. As Kalenjins, we supported President Moi’s 24-year rule and the same should apply now,” said Ruto.

However, other leaders continued to criticise Jubilee’s rule.

Kericho county Maendeleo Ya Wanawake chairlady Mary Cherotich said the ruling coalition seldom listened to their concerns.

PROTEST VOTE

“Kanu leaders are always concerned and ready to listen to the concerns of ordinary residents but the Jubilee government are unconcerned. We have decided to opt for Kanu since we have been literally orphaned by the government. If it will learn its lesson, we would probably support Jubilee in the 2017 General Election,” said Cherotich.

Kipkelion, Kericho and Bureti branch Knut secretaries David Bore, Stanley Mutai and Daniel Chumo said teachers would vote for Sang as a protest vote against the government for refusing to implement  a  50-60 per cent pay increment awarded by the courts.

“The vote for the Kanu candidate in the March 7 by-election will serve as a protest vote to the Jubilee government. Sang is the only candidate who is most likely to support the teachers’ cause which the Jubilee government has fought so hard to block,” said Chumo.

Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) affiliate Kenya Plantations and Allied Workers Union (KPAWU) Kericho branch secretary Dickson Sang said he would mobilise tea workers to support the Kanu candidate.