{UAH} Standard Digital News - Kenya : Battle of William Ruto and Isaac Ruto: Where did it start?

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000089948&story_title=battle-of-the-rutos-where-did-it-start

By EDWIN MAKICHE

Rift Valley, Kenya: The war of words between Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto and United Republican Party MPs over his stand on devolution is changing the political landscape in the Rift Valley. Ruto, a key figure in URP and the chairman of the Council of Governors has been branded a rebel within the party because of his bare knuckle criticism of the Government over the slow implementation of devolution.

He is being accused of undermining the Deputy President, William Ruto who represents the face of the Kalenjin nation in the six-month old Jubilee government.

The genesis of the governor's troubles with his party has roots in his recent visit to Homa Bay County and his continued claims that the Jubilee government was sabotaging devolution.

Ruto was in Homa Bay to return an earlier visit made by his host Cyprian Awiti to a funds drive in Bomet. During the visit he was said to have called for a political co-operation between Luos and Kalenjins. The war against Mr Ruto has now sparked political supremacy battles in the populous Kipsigis community.

 Although the Bomet Governor says he has no problem with his namesake and was merely playing his role as the Chairman of the Council of Governors, some URP officials accuse him of working to outshine the deputy President by building his own power base in the region.

Locally nicknamed Plokom (gum boots), Ruto has maintained an image a vocal and fearless leader who doesn't hesitate to cross swords with opponents. Last week, he dismissed leaders threatening to impeach him because of his stand on devolution.

 "Such statements were only issued by the late Kariuki Chotara, Kihika Kimani, Mulu Mutisya when they used to talk about enemies of development," Ruto said.

Ruto added: "It is then that they used to talk of expelling people. I thought Jubilee was supposed to be digital, the statements I heard today (Wednesday) are worse than analogue...."

On Monday, Ruto attended a governors' meeting with the Deputy President during which he maintained his demand for a full implementation of devolution.

Some political analysts in the region say any attempt by leaders allied to Deputy President to expel the Bomet Governor would be disastrous for the party. Joseph Rotich, a lecturer in a local university says the governor is a key pillar in Deputy President's political career.

He says the governor is one of the leaders who call the shots among the Kalenjincommunity which has a large following for URP.

"What the deputy president should understand is that Ruto's political career is as old as his,'' he says.

University of Nairobi lecturer Dr Adams Oloo says he does not believe governor Ruto was at war with the deputy President. "Ruto is just doing his work as the Chairman of the Council of Governors," says Oloo.

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