BOMET Governor Isaac Rutto has denied working with other governors, mainly from the South Rift, to topple Deputy President William Ruto as the leader of the Kalenjin.
Rutto told the Star that he was only interested in ensuring that devolution succeeds and said those accusing him of fighting Ruto were "misinformed."
Rutto was responding to 35 MPs who had earlier yesterday accused the former Chepalungu MP of fighting the Deputy President and attempting to destabilise the Jubilee government.
"I'm a Kipsigis and Ruto is a Nandi. The issue of me wanting to replace the Deputy President as a Kalenjin leader has not been discussed. It is not an issue. Devolution is my only agenda," Rutto.
Rutto was recently quoted as saying that URP is considering working with Cord ahead of the 2017 elections. He has accused the government of undermining the county governments. He also told off MPs accusing him of undermining the Jubilee government.
"Dialogue is not analogue. It is the best way to manage affairs. Those calling themselves digital must know there is no place for sycophancy in this day and age," said Rutto.
Yesterday afternoon 35 MPs from URP held a press conference at the Intercontinental Hotel in Nairobi where they claimed that unnamed "foreigners" were pumping money into the country through the Cord Coalition to destabilise the Jubilee government.
The MPs claimed that the money was being used to organise grassroots rallies and meetings by some governors to incite the people.
The MPs, led by Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso, singled out Rutto, the chairman of the Council of Governors, as working with foreigners and Cord. They said Rutto's criticism of the Jubilee's handling of devolution was "a plot" to smear the new government.
They denied that URP was considering an alliance with Cord and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for the 2017 elections. Asman Kamama (Tiaty) alleged that some "foreigners" were behind the destabilisation "plot" after they failed to "influence" the March 4 elections.
“They are getting money from foreigners through a party we defeated in the last elections,” said Kamama. Nominated MP Sarah Korere (URP) said Kenyans should be allowed to govern themselves without outside influence.
“They should resign if they believe Jubilee cannot deliver on devolution. They should seek fresh mandate from the people through Cord,” Benjamin Langat (Ainamoi) told Rutto.
The MPs said Rutto should stop speaking on behalf of URP. They accused the governors of misusing public funds by authorizing unnecessary expenditures. They said some governors have provided budgets for sniffer dogs and lavish homes instead of focusing on development.
The MPs claimed there was a wider plot to divert development money to unnecessary spending and then blame the Jubilee government for stifling development at the county level.
This weeked Raila will be in the USA for the first bi-annual Kenya governors conference which has been organized by the Network for Development of Youth in partnership with Summers Dodge International Group.
The governors attending the conference in Iriving, Texas include Alfred Mutua (Machakos), Jack Ranguma (Kisumu), Sospeter Ojaamong' (Busia), Kajiado David Nkendienye (Kajiado), Cornel Rasanga (Siaya), John Nyang’arama (Nyamira), Patrick Simiyu Khaemba(Trans Nzoia), Joseph Nanok (Turkana), James Ongwae (Kisii), Amason Kingi (Kilifi), Cyprian Awiti (Homa Bay) and Salim Mvuria (Kwale).
According to one organiser Sam Osamba, the summit will introduce the newly elected governors to the best practices in handling challenges in devolved governments; public finance management, the institutional framework for foreign direct investment; and the advantages of domestic and foreign capital flows.
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