THE AUTHORS AND DISTRIBUTORS OF TRIBAL HATE LEAFLETS IN KERICHO TOWN AND ITS ENVIRONS HAVE COME UNDER SEVEREST CONDEMNATION BY TOP UDM LEADER.

Leo Odera Omolo Report in Kericho Town {Monday 21st,2009}

The United Democratic Movement [UDM}leadership has come out in full force with wholesale condemnation of the authors and distributors of tribal hate leaflets in Kericho Town and its environs.

The party leader Lt. Gen {rtd} John Arap Koech said he was disturbed and sickened when he received the information that some cowards were dropping hate leaflets, threatening members of a certain community, asking them to leave the district.

“Whoever is responsible for this kind of intimidation should be investigated and brought to book. Kenyan citizens must feel free to work and live in any part of the country, irrespective of their party of affiliation. The country need a breathing space and break from the 2008 post election violence ,which left this country in rubbles and dust. Therefore, anybody advocating violence should consider himself or themselves to be the enemies number of Kenyan people”, said Koech.

UDM is the second most popular political party in the South Rift after the ODM, and its national chairman said the party is only preaching the gospel of cohesion and peaceful co-existence of the Kenyan communities.

He added that he is vehemently opposed to anyone using the on going Mau eviction as an instrument for frustrating members of a certain community. “What have those Luos, picking tea in the tea companies, have got to do with the Mau Forest saga, to warrant their expulsion from the region?”, he asked.

The retired former Deputy Chief of the General Staff{CGS} said the authors and distributors of the tribal hate leaflets have displayed their political naivety and primitiveness. “And such cowardice actions could be counterproductive”, said the General.

The UDM popularity and strength in the South Rift region was exhibited in the three by-elections held last year in Ainamoi, Sotik and Bomet constituencies. It performed miraculously in Kiligoris, in the Trans-Mara district. In all the three by-elections, UDM candidates gave the ODM aspirants a run for their money, and even performed better than KANU  and PNU.

Gen Koech said that all these are clear indications that UDM is making major inroads in the South Rift region. The party, he said is looking for better things in 2012.His party stands for the unity of purpose of all Kenyan communities.

The party has only one MP in the current. She is Prof. Hellen Sambili, the Sports Minister and is looking forward to clinch more parliamentary seats in the 2012. It is currently involved in revitalization and mobilization, as well as membership drive throughout the Republic of Kenya. “We are soon opening branches in Central Kenya, Eastern, Western, Nyanza and at the Coast, in readiness for the 2012 general elections”, said the General.

Meanwhile, a group of Kalenjin politicians in Kericho have faulted the Vice President, Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, and accused him of being responsible for the on-going divisions and split in the ODM..The Vice President, they alleged, is playing dangerous political games of divide and rule, hoping to capitalize on the on-going stand-off in ODM. But the ODM, they said would come out of it much stronger than ever before.

Led by a Kericho Municipal Councillor, Nicholas Tum, they appealed to level headed politicians in the South Rift to give the government sufficient time to sort out things amicably in the Mau.”We are aware that some wicked politicians are out there to capitalize on Mau issue to bring down the Prime Minister. But Raila Odinga has our backing and he is our man”, Mr. Tum said.

Ends
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