The Bomet Governor insists the Kericho by-election was not free and fair after their candidate, Sang, lost to Jubilee Alliance Party’s Aaron Cheruiyot/MIKE KARIUKI
KERICHO, Kenya, Mar 8 – Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto has dismissed assertions that the Kericho Senate by-election was a supremacy battle with Deputy President William Ruto.
Governor Ruto instead says the kingpin of Rift Valley politics remains President Daniel arap Moi and at no point has he handed over the power mantle to anyone.
“There is no king in Rift Valley and for your information, the Kalenjin Mzee remains Moi,” he told Capital FM News in an interview.
“We are not aware of any day Moi has handed over leadership. In Kalenjin land we have only have different political leaders at various times. The Kalenjin community still adores the leadership of the former President Moi.”
He said that they conducted an issue-based campaign in the just concluded poll, which should not be seen as a battle with him on one side with KANU’s Gideon Moi, against the DP.
“The poverty in rural areas is worrying. Earning from all our agricultural products has gone in an all time low,” he said.
He said what they want the government to address was among other the menace of nepotism, “as shown blatantly in Kericho. People of this county are disappointed since they do not know whether they are being resolved.”
He highly praised his KANU candidate Kipkorir Sang saying he has “an impeccable past.”
Though Governor Ruto has been perceived as an all time critic of the Jubilee Government, he said he only wants the best for Kenyans.
“This was not a campaign of Isaac Ruto or William Ruto… Sang stood for real issues,” he said.
The Bomet Governor insists the Kericho by-election was not free and fair after their candidate, Sang, lost to Jubilee Alliance Party’s Aaron Cheruiyot.
He accused police and officials of the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission of helping rig in the Jubilee candidate, Cheruiyot.
“This was anti-climax and that’s why you hardly find celebrations in the entire county. They are all mourning,” he said.
He did not however provide a specific case where rigging occurred.
Meanwhile, business came at a standstill in Kericho as Jubilee leaders led area residents in celebrating Cheruiyot’s victory.
The leaders insisted that the victory only affirmed that DP Ruto was indeed the Rift Valley king.
A branded chopper hovered around the town for than two hours in a show of might.
“Indeed this is the government,” some residents were heard saying.
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