Ruto allegedly not happy with leaders going against the tide

Updated Saturday, July 6th 2013 at 17:25 GMT +3

By County Team

In the North Rift, the Deputy President is said to be unhappy with some of the leaders accused of going against the wishes of the party.

Some of Ruto’s close allies have pointed accusing fingers at Uasin Gishu governor Jackson Mandago, whom they accuse of failing to consult the party when making key decisions.

Sources intimated to The County Weekly that theDeputy President prefers dealing with Deputy Governor Daniel Kiprotich and County Commissioner Abdi Hassan on matter of the county to the governor. 

 Although Mr Mandago dismissed the claims as rumours, other leaders in the area talk of a governor who is not in good terms with his party. 

Kapsaret MP Oscar Sudi recently told journalists in his office that the governor had been disregarding theleadership of URP, the party that propelled him to the gubernatorial seat. 

 “He cannot claim that he got there all by himself. Disrespecting leaders and treating them with disdain does not augur well with us. This county is bigger than him,” he said.  

During a recent fundraiser in aid of needy students in Mr Sudi’s Kapsaret constituency, Mr Mandago said some people are peddling rumours that he does not work with certain leaders.  

 In an alleged pointed reference to Mr Sudi, he said the same people were out to sow discord among leaders in the county through the spread of rumours.  

 Some of the decisions made by the governor in the recent past have won him praise and criticism in equal measure.  

 His recent move to evict hawkers from Eldoret’s Central Business District was praised for creating sanity and cleanliness in the streets of the town.  

 Affected voters, some of whom deal with small businesses like grocery stores, however criticised the governor for taking the drastic move instead of moving them to alternative sites.