Rift Valley ‘rebels’ tell off Deputy President Ruto allies
Wycliff Kipsang
Perceived Rift Valley rebels have told off some of their counterparts who have been putting pressure on them to join United Democratic Alliance (UDA), a party associated with Deputy President William Ruto.
Cherangany MP Joshua Kuttuny and his Moiben counterpart Silas Tiren were yesterday categorical the electorate would decide on who to lead them during the August 9 elections.
“Their (MPs) sentiments are baseless and portrays level of desperation! Our reelection will be based on our performance not sycophancy,” Kuttuny told People Daily in an interview.
Track record
He said their development track record is there for everybody to see and laughed off sentiments by their colleagues during the DP’s tour of his North Rift backyard on Saturday.
Tiren said every leader in Rift Valley has a right to choose his or her political path and should not be coerced to toe a certain political line.
During the DP’s meeting at the Eldoret Sports Club, Kuttuny,Tiren, Kesses MP Swarup Mishra and Uasin-Gishu Senator Margaret Kamar were on the receiving end for not joining the DP’s camp.
Leaders allied to the DP among them Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi and Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot asked the electorate not to elect leaders in the region who were not supporting Ruto’s presidential bid.
Sudi and Uasin-Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago have openly told Mishra to join UDA or risk being voted out in the August polls.
At least six aspirants are eyeing the UDA ticket with the aim of unseating the flamboyant MP.
They include former Uasin Gishu Assembly Speaker Isaac Terer, youth leader Joseph Kemboi, Uasin Gishu County Finance executive Julius Rutto. Also seeking a political comeback is former MP James Bett.
Mishra has, however, dared his opponents to prepare for a bruising political battle.
“My development track record speaks for itself. Let them come and the people will make the final decision,” the MP said.
He has been tight-lipped on which party ticket he will use to defend his seat. People Daily has established that many politicians in Rift Valley were warming up to UDA for political survival.
Among those who have succumbed to public pressure to join the DP’s fold are MPs Alfred Keter (Nandi Hills) and William Chepkut of Ainabkoi.
The entry of the two MPs to Ruto’s fold leaves Senator Kamar and Dr Mishra as the only leaders in the DP’s backyard who are yet to declare their political stands.
Last week, Prof Kamar hit out at some leaders in the region allied to the DP whom she said were pushing other leaders away from him.
Senator Kamar is yet to declare the seat she will vie for in this year’s polls after Governor Mandago declared that he vie for the senatorial seat.
