News

Leaders query Maa team visits to Ruto Karen home

Friday, September 4th, 2020 00:00 | By
From left: Environment CS Keriako Tobiko (left), Health CS Mutahi Kagwe and Interior CS Fred Matiang’i at Lerruat in Kajiado county, yesterday. Photo/PD/Christine Musa

Environment Cabinet Secretary (CS) Keriako Tobiko yesterday led political leaders from the Maa community in questioning Deputy President  (DP) William Ruto’s penchant for hosting delegations from Kajiado County.

Without mentioning Ruto by name, Tobiko warned leaders who were frequently hosting delegations from the county, saying efforts in hosting the events, should be channeled towards environmental conservation.

“We are here to represent the President. The office of the President is not vacant and the meetings are just cheap politics.

The energy of hosting the delegations should be directed on maintaining the environment instead of premature baseless politics,” said Tobiko.

Tobiko was among three CSs who had toured Kajiado County to inspect development projects.

The other CSs in the delegation were Fred Matiang’i (Interior) and Mutahi Kagwe (Health).

Conspicuously missing

Also present were Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku, Kajiado Central MP Elijah Memusi, Joseph Manje (Kajiado North), George Sunkuiya (Kajiado West) and Peris Tobiko (Kajiado East).

Local MPs allied to Ruto among them nominated Senator Mary Seneta and Kajiado South MP Katoo Ole Metito were conspicuously missing.

 The leaders appeared to allude to two delegations, which the DP hosted at his Karen residence in Nairobi last month.

The most recent one was on August 26, when he attacked a group of politicians who have been meeting at the Ildamat home of Central organisation of Trade Union secretary general Francis Atwoli, to craft a super alliance to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2022.

Speaking yesterday, Tobiko in a thinly veiled salvo at the DP, talked of some people who were restless and unhappy with development matters and were only keen on early campaigns.

Lenku on his part said the Maa community which was divided during the last General Election with one camp supporting Uhuru and the other one backing ODM Raila Odinga, was currently fully behind the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) spearheaded by the two leaders.

Ruto has openly voiced his opposition to the BBI report and the calls for a referendum to change the Constitution. 

Karen delegations

“As the chairman of BBI and as the chairman of the Narok-Kajiado economic bloc, we are in support of the government.

We support the President. We have resolved as the county government, that our support for the national government is unequivocal.

All our teams know that we have an obligation to serve our nation,” said Lenku.

Memusi was more direct, accusing those going to the DP’s Karen residence of exposing the Maa community to Covid-19.

The DP has previously been criticised for disregarding the Ministry of Health Covid-19 containment measures.

“We are calling on the concerned ministries to save our community from contracting Covid-19.

The Karen delegations are a threat to the health of our people. We want those delegations canceled forthwith,” said Memusi.

“Kajiado residents are impressed with Uhuru’s leadership. We have been the biggest beneficiaries of this government and we will support it to the end.

We are sure and focused that it is the right leadership for us,” added Sunkuyia.

Peris Tobiko also echoed the sentiments expressed by the other leaders, saying Kajiado was behind Uhuru.

“Kajiado is strongly pro-Uhuru. Our support for Uhuru’s administration is unshaken. We also support the Handshake,” she said.

In the recent past, the DP has been increasingly losing support from the Maa community. Narok Governor Samuel Ole Tunai and Samburu’s Moses Lenolkulal left his camp.

And more recently, Laikipia  North MP Sarah Korere, who he had nominated to Parliament in 2013 under the defunct United Republican Party.

The DP has in the past month hosted three delegations from Kajiado County to consolidate support and on two occasions, he has used the platforms to attack Uhuru and Raila’s allies who he accused of plotting to use the “system and deep State” to rig him out during the 2022 presidential race.

On August 26, Ruto said he was ready to face the “super alliance” being crafted by Uhuru and Raila’s allies in the 2022 elections.

  “You have told me that you have been getting a lot of visitors in Kajiado in someone’s house.

Don’t be concerned about those people. The activities are because there are people who are suffering since they have lacked someone to compete with me.

All these things you are hearing in Kajiado, a line-up of more than 30 people are uniting and still fear the number is not enough. I am waiting for them,” said Ruto. 

More on News


ADVERTISEMENT

RECOMMENDED STORIES News


ADVERTISEMENT