Commentary By Leo Odera Omolo
I am wholeheartedly in agreement with the sentiments expressed by a number of Kalenjin Ministers and MPs over the weekend when they told the Eldoret North MP William Ruto to carry his cross and at the same time stop cheating the people that it was Raila Odinga who told the ICC to prosecute him at the Hague.
The most interesting statement was the one issued by the Sotik MP Dr Joyce Laboso who accused William Ruto of insincerity who revealed that he {Ruto} had earlier insisted on the case being heard at The Hague,
The MP made these remarks at Kaplelei Secondary School in her Sotik constituency during a fund raising meeting. She further revealed that Ruto on one occasion invited hr for lunch and lobbied her to vote against local tribunal.
The MP had accompanied the Road Minister Franklin Bett who was the chief guest at the fund drive in the company of Kipkellion MP Magerer Lang’at who is an Assistant Minister for Energy and Mrs Beatrice Kones also an Assistant Minister for home Affairs
It is true that Ruto had lobbied for his case to be heard at The Hague, then how comes the person now tell members of the public pack of lies about the Prime Minister? Laboso’s revelation of Ruto’s behind the scene campaign against the government plan for the proposal of establishment of a local tribunal to hear the cases of all those accused of causing mayhem during the post-election violence.
The sentiments expressed by these Kipsigis leaders at he weekend has revealed he degree of political intrigues within Ruto’s G-7 camp
And of course Ruto like any other Kenyans has the right to stand and contest for the highest office on the land because that is his democratic rights. But he should stop being so petty and seeking for the presidency by riding on the back of Raila Odinga. He should use his own credibility to convince the Kenyan electorate hat he was mature enough to be the President and not an activist. He must therefore stop using Raila as a punching bag.
If I may quote the Road Minister Franklin Bett who said,” I am disheartened when I hear Ruto cheating that it was Raila Odinga who told the ICC to prosecute at The Hague.”
These remarks that Raila had betrayed Ruto have since become monotonous and notorious sentiments of defeatist. Kenyan politicians are fond of whipping tribal emotions once they failed to display the picture of political magnanimity and dynamic enough to capture a place in he national outlook. This kind of cheap politics is the recipe to chaos and distasteful situation.
In this context, I must say that I have a lot of respect to Hon Martha Karua another presidential aspirant who whenever she had a chance to address Kenyans, she is always talking a lo t of sense which has endeared her to many silent Kenyans, Even her contribution in the August House are full of political maturity and high quality of political leadership.
A time Ruto speaks as if he is addressing he kindergarten children and not people of high integrity and who are capable of analyzing his utterance and the making judgment whether he is a serious contender for the presidency or just. Kenyan people have come of age, and Hon Ruto ought to have known this political reality.
With new constitution in hand Kenyan needs to come out of the bondage of mediocre leaders who goes around polluting the atmosphere with empty political slogans and propaganda. I am glad that Rala Odinga has matured up and transformed himself from radicalism to a statesman.
On one occasion after the Prime Minister had responded to the KRA call that MPs and Minister pay taxes, Ruto came out and made blunder criticizing the Prime Minister for having queued at the KRA offices along with he Wananchi, What is wrong with that? When did Ruto qualified to teach Kenyans about how to behave? If it is anything to go by, it was he Ruto who should learn how to be consistent with his words.
On one hand it was Ruto who is on record crying over the spilt milk when he recently wrote to President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga asking to know his ministerial fate. On the other t is the same Ruto who is bragging that he does not care of being sacked because he had left his Ministerial position long ago.
On one hand it is the same Ruto who goes o Western Province and Tell the Luhyias how he was wiling to stand down for Eugene Wamalwa to become he next president. On the other hand it is the same Ruto who had been heard campaigning for Uhuru Kenyatta and the next day is out for the Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka.
It is indeed true that the majority of Kalenjin people voted for Raila Odinga in the year 2007.But is also imperative for one to know that the Kalenjins are not the exclusive property of Ruto nor is that community is for sale!!.It is even wrong for Ruto to brag or assume that he is the one who is speaking for the entire Kalenjin ethnic group. Even the Kalenjins voted for Raila in average 99 or 100 per cent, this does not entail the Prime Minister to be either enslaved or be taken hostage for political ransom.
ENDS
KUDOS RAILA!
According to the YK 92 boy, William Somoia Ruto, it was too low for Raila to have queued to pay his taxes at KRA. Rather he should have loved Raila Amolo Odinga send his messager (a lesser persopn) to take the money to KRA. According to the great Ruto Raila stooped too low and should have known that he is greater than the messenger! What nonsense! Oh dear Lord where is humility?
Any normal thinking person knows that the Prime Minister is a servant of the people and this means that he is indeed a servant of the messenger Ruto derides too!
Kudos Amolo for you know that the people put you on the position you hold in contradistinction to what Ruto thinks. Keep it up. The people respect you because you respect them too.
DR. ODIDA OKUTHE.
At least some truth is coming out! Somebody thinks Kenyans have a the brain of a Warthog; no recall. When the campaign for the Hague was at its crest Hon Ruto was known to loudly say “Don’t be vague” in support of Hague as it would have taken so long to start off.
Ruto should in my view step down from the presidential race till he clears his name.Its quite tiring to always hear him complain of Raila did this,Raila did that…. why can he share with Kenyans his political vision?
Well said, he had equally misled a number of youths into turning against Raila. How i wish Kenyan election in 2012n is going to be peaceful
Hon. Ruto’s unbridled attacks on Raila Amolo have become monotonous and notorious and does not lay bare the cause of the disagreement to the electorate. We thank God his own people – the kalenjin have come to learn that he thrives on inaccuracies and sensationalism, the twin characters of a defeatist. His continued utter display of immaturity and unwarranted growing of bitterness is a cause for his handlers to jump into action and do some corrective patch work on him before he damages himself completely.
If queuing is a sign of humility from the one RAO, why isn’t he doing everywhere else..you know banks, supermarkets and what have you?! The value of the shilling was fast falling down, Kenyans dying of hunger and all that but the person responsible for fixing that was busy ‘being humble’ at KRA offices! Really, Kenya! Is that what we want come next elections?
hehehehehehe, who are these speaking of my kinsman like this? defending Raila? my foot, Raila has been a traitor since and mark my words, the closest he came to getting the high seat was in 2007, roundi hii, he goes fishing in L. Victoria… Like it or not, Kalenjin votes belong to Ruto, and by the way you claim democracy? go to any Luo village, even the unborn babies sing Raila, there is no Luo with a contrary opinion, beggining from Kisumu, Ahero, Bondo, Siaya, Homa bay, Kendu Bay, Mbita, Migori (Where his wife comes from), Suba etc hehehehe and you dare speak of eti Ruto is misleading the Kalenjin? potelea mbali kabisa,
we support Ruto to the end and at least when we say that we mean it!