Sibling rivalry among Kenya Kwanza parties rocks Ruto’s Laikipia rally
The political wrangling among parties in Kenya Kwanza played out during Deputy President William Ruto’s tour of Laikipia County when The Service Party (TSP) leader Mwangi Kiunjuri openly differed with him on the needs of the county.
Speaking in Nyahururu town Saturday afternoon, Ruto promised to carry on with road projects started by the Jubilee government in the county when he wins the presidency in the August 9th Elections.
“Even if the President (Uhuru Kenyatta) is retiring, I will ensure the road connecting Rumuruti and Nanyuki is built as promised when we take over leadership,” he said adding that the Jubilee government has tarmacked over 200 kilometres of roads in Laikipia County. 
“When we took over, only 20,000 people had electricity but now that number stands at 70,000. I assure you that work of connecting electricity will not stop, I will carry on,” he said.
But when Kiunjuri was called by the DP to address the crowd at the junction of Kenyatta and Koinange roads in Nyahururu town, the TSP leader said the problem of the county was not roads.
“The problem of Laikipia is not roads. Roads are okay but what Laikipia people need is security,” Kiunjuri told the second-in-command of Kenya.
The TSP leader’s presence appeared to have upset the agenda of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) team led by Ruto, his running mate Rigathi Gachagua, Ndindi Nyoro and Kimani Ichung’wa.
Apart from Ruto who spoke at length, the others were brief with Nyoro and Ichung’wah only alleging that the money meant to pay Kazi Mtaani workers were being stolen.
The two claimed that each of the workers was supposed to earn Sh1000 per day and not the Sh400 they are getting.
Interestingly Ruto and all those inclined to UDA kept to their usual call for suit voting. Because of the tension created by TSP posters-waving supporters of Kiunjuri and his candidates, Ruto did not give a chance to UDA governorship candidate Joshua Irungu and Senator John Kinyua to address the Nyahururu gathering.
Ruto had to severally plead with those holding the posters to lower them to allow him and those standing away to have a better view of each other.
“I humbly request you to lower the posters. The posters are good because the candidates have used a lot money to give each of the supporters the posters, but lower them so that those behind can see us,” he appealed repeatedly.
Sources close to the DP said he opted not to give the UDA's gubernatorial and the senatorial candidates a chance to speak because they could have been heckled by a section of the crowd.
The competition between UDA and TSP in Laikipia is growing and threatening to deny Kenya Kwanza seats as the country moves closer t elections.
The DP and his team flew to Nanyuki where the tension between the two sides was said to be at a fever pitch.
