Kositany ethnic attack on Keter stirs heat
Soy MP Caleb Kositany has kicked off a storm in Deputy President (DP) William Ruto’s camp after comments appeared on social media disparaging Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter for “not being a true Nandi.”
In a video clip that has since gone viral on social media, Kositany, who is a close ally of the DP, is heard saying Keter is a Kipsigis; who should be disciplined by elders from the sub-tribe for defying Ruto.
The clip which is believed to have been recorded in 2018 has caused an uproar with Kipsigis leaders warning it could fan divisions within the Kalenjin sub-tribes ahead of the August polls.
Critical matters
Ruto is relying on a solid Kalenjin bloc in his quest to become the country’s fifth President.
Kositany appeared to have been responding to Keter’s rebellion against the DP after he was elected on Jubilee in 2017.
Upon re-election, the MP had gone on a drive speaking against the DP and his handlers, who he accused of misleading him on critical matters affecting the community.
He joined hands with other rebels including Moiben MP Silas Tiren and his Cherangany counterpart Joshua Kutuny; who had been elected on Jubilee but had turned on Ruto-becoming vicious critics.
“ We want to tell Kipsigis elders to come for their son and counsel him properly. He is not from Nandi but he has come to live here and has been elected and has gone through Nandi circumcision rites but he is not a Nandi,” Kositany says.
The clip has been fished out after Keter’s win in the primaries was annulled by UDA’s disputes committee, that said the exercise in the constituency had been marred by massive irregularities. His rival, Bernard Kitur, who came second was instead handed the ticket to vie for the seat in August.
“…if you didn’t know then you should know from today Arap Keter is not a Nandi but a Kipsigis,” added Kositany, who was among MPs who campaigned against Keter before the nominations.
Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi and Kimilili counterpart Didmus Barasa also joined in asking Nandi Hills voters not to vote for the incumbent.
Yesterday, Kositany said it was an old clip that was not related to the recent primaries.
“It is an old video, I was responding to him when he insulted the DP,” he told People Daily.
Kipsigis leaders led by Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok demanded an apology from Kositany, saying the remarks were unfortunate.
Careless talks
“The ongoing public discourse on the unfortunate remarks by Kositany, with respect to the Kipsigis community should remind each of us that words, in the principle of purpose and effect, can have adverse effects on the general unity of A PEOPLE,” Barchok tweeted.
The governor, who won UDA’s ticket to defend his seat said such careless talks could easily provide fodder to political rivals to foment discord in the Kalenjin community.
“ To my friend Kositany, please withdraw the unfortunate remarks and apologise,” the governor added.
Kapsoit MCA Paul Chirchir said Kipsigis deserved to be respected within the Kalenjin community, also demanding an apology.
“I may not agree with our brother Keter but we cannot allow the mistakes of one individual to be used to pass a blanket judgment on an entire community,” he said.
Keter has become a thorn in the flesh in Ruto’s UDA, freely speaking his mind and at some point has ruffled feathers for publicly accusing the DP of perpetrating corruption. He did not respond to People Daily’s inquiries yesterday.
Kositany’s sentiments have reignited the supremacy battle between Nandis and Kipsigis whose rivalry within the larger Kalenjin community has been historically noted.
Nandi Hills was, in 2013, hived off from Tinderet constituency that borders Kericho County which is predominantly habited by the Kipsigis. Intermarriages within the Kalenjin sub-tribes are also quite common and are often intense when they share borders like in this case.
