News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Kerichoi Town

The suspended Higher Education Minister stands no chance of becoming Kenya’s third Prime Minister to replace Raila Odinga unless he and his rebellious Kalenjin MPs quit the party altogether and seek fresh mandate from the electorate on another party ticket and sponsorship.

The rule of the law is clear under the National Accord. The leader of the majority party in Parlanent becomes the Prime Minister. And as far as the law is concern, Ruto and his brigades were still considered as the ODM members unless they relinquish their position and quit the party altogether.

A Kericho politician Councilor Nicholas Tum made this observation while commenting on the widely reported plan hatched by Ruto and his allies in collaboration with the PNU MPs to oust the Prime Minister by bringing him down through a substantive motion of no confidence in Parliament. Tum said Ruto seemed to be totally ignorant of the existing laws. This is perhaps the reason why he is being hotly pursued with numerous legal actions that include the impending ICC trials at the Hague.

He said any attempt to bring down the Prime Minister through unlawful means would sink this country back to where it was in early 2008, and Kenyans want peace and insist that the law be applied for to the letter.

“Some leaders in the Rift Valley and their allies in the Mt Kenya region are shopping for chaos, disunity and political instability. These are too expensive subject which the country can ill afford now. And the anti-reformist forces which have regrouped together should allow us time to implement the new Constitution before the next general elections”, said Tum

Tum who is the regional coordinator of the ODM in the South Rift wondered why there is a lot of pack of lies in the lips of many Kalenjin politicians, particularly the MPs. Lies is not within the Kalenjin culture and characters.

Supporting the sentiments expressed by the Assistant Minister for Energy and the ODM MP for Kipkellion Magerer Lang’at who was reported to have played down the move by the Minister for Agriculture Dr Sally Kosgey’s decision to abandoned Mr Odinga and had termed it as short time hiccup.

Tum said Dr Kosgey should be ashamed that he had been flying the national flag as a cabinet Minister for the last three years under the docket which is located to the ODM by the National Accord of 2008 only to start changing like a chameleon.

Lang’ had said that Dr. Kosgey departure would enable the MP to re-organize his team in the Rift Valley and beyond.

The Assistant Minister had said,” Those who are deserting the PM have already lost ground because of wanting leadership in their constituencies and they think by also joining the anti-Odinga they will regain ground. Far from it they are already spent forces.”

Coun Tum said those MP deserting Mr Odinga are doing so for the purpose of monetary interests and gains. They have exposed the Kalenjin as the cheapest politician, portraying the community as being put out for auction or sale.

Tum cited both the Cherangany MP Joshua Kutuny and Dr Kosgey as among the Kalenjin MPs who are no longer in touch with the electorate. This was evidenced in their dismal performances followed by disastrous loss of the recent referendum voting for the new constitution. Kutuny lost in Cherangany while Dr. Kosgey lost the votes in her Aldai constituency.

Tum disclosed that the ODM leadership in Kipsigisland was working round the clock identifying a team of new party leadership in the region, which has the highest votes in the Rift Valley. “We are not worried about the disgruntled and frustrated individuals who have opted out. We dare them to quit their parliamentary seats if they are men and women enough.” he added.

If Ruto is a man enough, he should mobilized the ODM party leadership and oust Mr Odinga from within rather than seeking amorphous alliances from the patches of minority parties. Let him oust Mr Odinga and control the ODM MPs in Parliament. Alternative he should quit and join other part and seek for fresh mandate from the electorate before making day dream of ousting the Prime Minister.

Tum accused Ruto and his friends of plotting to stir up tribal animosity in the same way they did in 2008 simply for the lust for political leadership. .Tum faulted the Minister for the Environment for having said that President Kibaki has the numbers to push in any Bills including the controversial nominations in the Judiciary department.

Why should be the President be advised to rely mainly on the MPs from the patches of minority parties, and not to win the majority of MP at the polls by his own PNU party? Kenyan electorate treats those pursuing migratory politics and shuttling between ODM and PONU as people with malice intention and political mercenaries

Ends.