NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 25 – Eldoret North Member of Parliament William Ruto has led ODM rebels who were sacked from the government on Wednesday to declare Prime Minister Raila Odinga a tyrant and dictator who “rewards sycophants.”
Mr Ruto said his sacking and that of fellow rebels was long overdue because he has always known that his differences with the Prime Minister were irreconcilable.
He said Mr Odinga was not, in anyway, different from such leaders as former President Daniel Moi who rewarded his sycophants by giving them ministerial positions previously held by those he perceived disloyal.
In an apparent reference to the appointment of nominated Member of Parliament Musa Sirma to the East African Community docket, Mr Ruto said he was not surprised at all that it happened.
“We formed ODM, we were not invited to join it. We thought it will stand for the values and principles in our manifesto, unaware that we were being led by a tyrant and dictator who reward sycophants,” the Eldoret North MP told a briefing Parliament buildings accompanied by fellow rebels, mainly from the Rift Valley Province.
“It is a party of patronage which we can no longer associate ourselves with.”
“This sacking did not come as a surprise, we have always known the kind of leaders we were dealing with in ODM and that is why we left the party long time ago; we are only there technically because it sponsored us to Parliament,” he added, and challenged those he termed as “ODM remnants” to be prepared for a real battle in the ballot.
Mr Ruto was sacked as Higher Education Minister alongside Hellen Sambili (East African Community), Aden Duale (assistant minister, livestock) and Mohammed Ali (assistant minister, special programmes).
“I served diligently everyone knows why I was sacked,” Prof Sambili said.
In the mini reshuffle announced on Wednesday, Mr Sirma was appointed to replace Prof Sambili while Dan Mwazo was named to take over from Mr Duale.
Hussein Gabbow was appointed to be assistant Minister in the Special Programs Ministry replacing Mr Ali.
Mr Ruto who is largely viewed as the kingpin of Rift Valley politics sought to assure his fellow rebels that the UDM party will provide a solution to their problems.
“It should be known that we are no longer in ODM, we moved long time ago. We have a party and we are not afraid of a by election as and when it comes,” the Eldoret North MP who is accused by the International Criminal Court of committing crimes against humanity leading to the death of some 1,500 people.
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