The firestorm between Prime minister Raila Odinga and Agriculture minister William Ruto (pictured) raged on with the Eldoret North MP stepping out backed by 22 tough-talking Kalenjin MPs.Their message to Raila was simple and clear: Respect us or we will wash our hands of you.
They also defended retired President Moi, welcomed President Kibaki to the province and told Raila they were fast losing confidence in his leadership.
They came from different political parties including Railas Orange Democratic Movement to deliver the message that the region had struck a common chord and would sing him one song and one tune.
Mr Ruto set the ball rolling by declaring the Kalenjin community was in Rift Valley Province by right and were not squatters.
Information Minister Samuel Poghisio, an ODM-Kenya MP, asked the PM to understand that “Rift Valley is a people, not a party”.
The MPs rebuked Raila for saying Moi should keep quiet, with Poghisio warning: “If you touch Moi, politics will change in this country”.
He added: “We are in different parties but we have come here to speak with one voice for our people in Rift Valley. Leaders in this country need to know that one day they, too, will be retired.”
Roads Minister Franklin Bett said: “We are a people who sing and play drumbeats of peace. But it is possible to do the opposite if you irritate us.”
On Sunday, after parallel weekend meetings by Raila and Ruto in Kisii, the Agriculture minister congregated 22 MPs in Cheptiret, some 40km from Eldoret. The PM was the target of their direct attacks.
Planned evictions
Again, the issues of contention remained the impending Mau Forest Complex evictions, Railas perceived ingratitude to key supporters once in power and what they see as poor management of ODM.
The MPs told Raila he must respect them if he wanted their respect.
Three weeks ago, as Rift MPs attacked Raila over plans to evict their people from the Mau, the PM threatened to bypass them and engage their constituents directly.
Ministers present at Cheptiret included United Democratic Movements Prof Hellen Sambili and Assistant minister Linah Kilimo who is from Kenda. They, too, spoke in defence of the community.
“We are in different parties but we have come here to speak with one voice for our people in Rift Valley,” said Poghisio.
The Communications minister said it was wrong for Raila to attempt to silence the voices of Rift Valley leaders.
“Our problem in Kenya when simply put, is bad manners!” Poghisio said. “How can you go telling (Cherangany MP Joshua) Kutuny or even Moi to keep off? How do you expect people to survive?”
Ruto said it was wrong for leaders to discriminate against some citizens while advocating peace.
“The way to a stable and peaceful Kenya is for all of us to talk to each other in a just manner,” he said.
The minister said the current drought should not be squarely blamed on Mau settlers but on climate change as a result of gas emissions from industrialised nations.
“We support environmental conservation, but this should not be used to criminalise and demonise the people of Rift Valley,” he said.
Ruto said the Mau evictions must be carried out systematically and settlers adequately compensated.
The minister vowed no one would stand in the way of the unity of the Rift Valley people. “Even though we are in different parties, no one can divide us. We will stand together,” he said.
Ruto added former Presidents Kenyatta and Moi should be accorded respect. The MPs told Raila they would not let him use the environment issue to brutalise the Kalenjin.
“To anyone trying to use the environment to brutalise our people, we will say No!” said Chepalungu MP Mr Isaac Ruto.
He said Rift Valley MPs would lead a spirited fight against attempts by the PM to use the National Assembly to force out members of the community from the Mau Complex.
“No one should ask Parliament to override the fundamental rights of Kenyans who have valid title deeds,” said the MP said.
Show of unity
Speaking during an inter-denominational prayer meeting in Cheptiret area of Eldoret South, the MPs said Sundays show of unity on the Mau issue was a new beginning.
Kutuny warned Henry Kosgey and Sirma (the only Kalenjin MP to accompany Raila in his last two visits to the province) and others who wont work with them they were at risk.
“We are giving them notice, that whoever is going round with this man (Raila) is not serving the interests of the Kalenjin people and they will be isolated unless they return to the fold,” he said.
The MPs extended an invitation to President Kibaki to visit the province and warned Raila, who is scheduled to visit the North Rift this weekend, that they would only welcome him on a development tour.
Kuresoi MP Zakayo Cheruiyot said they recognised and supported the Presidents visit but not that of Raila.
“We will give the President the hospitality he deserves,” he said. “Huyo mwingine, hatumtambui (we do not recognise anyone else).
William Ruto called on Rift Valley residents to accord every leader a cordial welcome “so long us they are coming to speak development”.
Trappings of power
On 2012 politics, the MPs vowed they would play their cards better. “In 2002 and 2007, we supported losers. In 2012, we should not make the same mistake. We should consult widely before supporting a particular candidate,” said Keiyo South MP Jackson Kiptanui.
Lagat and Keter said Rift Valley residents were currently regretting why they went to the streets protesting on behalf of a man currently enjoying the trappings of state power while supervising the persecution of his supporters. “We lost our people in the process of fighting for him. But he has now disowned us,” said Keter.
Kilimo described Raila as a wolf in sheeps skin and quoted the Bible in Luke 6:45: “It says what someone speaks is what is in the heart. Raila kept telling us we should not mistake him for a cat yet he was a lion that had been rained on.”
Kilimo claimed Raila tried to “clear the Kalenjin from the leadership of this country” in the 1982 abortive coup. “He is at it again, this time trying to oversee this starting from Mau. We should be warned, just like he warned us that a tsunami is coming,” she said.
Speaking in Kalenjin, Ruto reminded Rift Valley electorate that they made a hasty decision in 2007 without listening to the voices of those who tried to warn them.
“All this I hear you complaining about is our very own fault. But next time, we will sit and talk widely. For now, no one should deceive you that we have already decided on the direction we will take,” he said.
The Standard
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