Respect Kosgey and Bett, Rift leaders advise Ruto

Leaders in the Rift Valley have accused Eldoret North MP William Ruto of being disrespectful to the Kalenjin politicians in ODM. Led by Ronald Ngeny, they told Ruto to ''stop insulting leaders and making utterances that would cause divisions in the community''.

Speaking to the Press in Narok town yesterday, Ngeny said suspended Industrialization minister Henry Kosgey and Roads minister Franklin Bett, who are seeking to be Prime Minister Raila Odinga's presidential running mate in ODM, must be respected. “If Kosgey and Bett have decided to go for running mate seat, it is their constitutional rights. And nobody, including Ruto, should question their bid,” said Ngeny, who is also the Bomet county ODM secretary.

Ngeny said if the former Higher Education minister wants to be the Kalenjin kingpin, he should start by uniting and respecting all the community leaders. “You cannot go around chest-thumping and insulting leaders while claiming to be the kingpin of the Kalenjin,” he said. ''ODM members are democrats and respect the views of the people regardless of their party affiliation.'' “The issue of maginalisation of the region cannot go away simply because he has abused our leaders,” said Ngeny.

He also reaffirmed that they was in ODM to stay and those doubting will be in for a rude shock in the next general election. ''ODM is the only party that will bring real change to this country,'' said Ngeny. “Even if you look of the results of the pollsters, they show ODM as the most popular and preferable party in the country,” he said.

He said that if the elections are held now, Prime Minister Raila Odinga will carry the day because of the support he enjoys countrywide, Ngeny said that the premier is a nationalists and his experience qualifies him for the top job. 

Raila is capable of fighting tribalism and implementing the real democratic change in the country,” said Ngeny. He said if the Prime Minister is elected president, he would take care the interest of all Kenyans regardless of their tribe. “Raila is the best placed to end tribalism and usher in democracy in this country. He is the only hope for a better future for Kenyans,” he said.

Source: The Star