A well-orchestrated plan to end the political rebellion in the Rift Valley against Deputy President William Ruto has been activated, as President Uhuru Kenyatta tours the region from this weekend.
Uhuru will tour Bomet and other counties in the South Rift to try and bring down the rising political temperature and anti-Ruto sentiment.
The President has previously skipped two Rift Valley functions at which he was to be the chief guest. It is understood that his latest visit to the populous region that for voted him in the last election is meant to explain to the locals that he has not abandoned them – or Ruto.
State House sources told the Star that the President will also use the opportunity to assure the people of Rift Valley that the Jubilee coalition is intact.
“The President will be touring our region this week and that is what we are planning for. Our people should know that the Jubilee coalition is intact and indivisible. Anyone waiting for a falling out between the President and his deputy will wait in vain,” Kericho Senator Charles Keter told the Star yesterday on the phone.
“What you read and hear in the media about the alleged attempt to destabilise the DP is the opposite of what is happening on the ground. The people of Rift Valley are solidly behind Ruto and no question about that,” the former Belgut MP added.
In what appears to be a clearly calculated strategy to reassure the people of Rift Valley that he is still in charge of the region, the Deputy President is understood to have organised a series of events that include meetings with various vested interest groups in the region.
According to well-placed sources in the Office of the Deputy President conversant with the strategy, Ruto will be hosting URP MPs for bi-monthly get-together meetings and a new political wing in his office will be established to handle leaders’ concerns.
Previously, Ruto’s office, situated in Harambee House Annex, has been accused of routinely denying access to leaders who want to meet the Deputy President.
To address the potential falling out and the cold feet that some MPs and governors have developed over the URP and TNA merger to form JAP, Ruto is said to have assured the region’s leaders at a working dinner last week at Weston Hotel, Nairobi, that the 2017 nominations will be free and fair.
It is understood that some of the MPs who attended the meeting raised concerns that their rivals for URP nomination tickets in the 2013 General Election have already imposed themselves as regional leaders while others have opened constituency offices.
Later in the month, Ruto is also expected to meet religious leaders, businessmen and the Kalenjin Council of Elders before meeting the youth and professionals.
Yesterday a section of URP MPs commended Ruto for moving in to take charge of a situation that was threatening to scuttle his 2022 presidential ambitions.
Ruto has also directed a suspension of forcible eviction of Mau Forest invaders awaiting government plans to relocate them in a humane manner.
Nandi Senator Stephen Sang and MPs Joyce Laboso (Sotik) and Leornard Sang (Buret) called on Baringo Senator Gideon Moi and Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto to respect the Deputy President.
“We need to meet and talk – what is happening is not helping the leaders or our people. It is no longer wise of us leaders to drag the name of Ruto into our personal issues. Ruto is almost capturing the seat. Leaders must now shelve their ambitions for all of us to give him the support he wants,” Laboso said.
– the-star.co.ke
