Two Kakamega legislators supporting Deputy President William Ruto’s 2022 ambitions differed sharply in front of their boss on Friday.
Addressing residents of Navakholo , Ikolomani MP Bernard Shinali was angered by calls from his Lurambi counterpart Titus Khamala that their boss should treat them equally.
To his face, Shinali told off Khamala that it was not practical for him to demand for equality with those whose loyalty has been intact in the Jubilee Government for more than five years. “Even at a work place, a late comer cannot demand an equal pay with those who reported earlier. There is no way they can be paid the same amount,” said Shinali.
Khamala had pleaded with DP Ruto to accord each one of them an equal opportunity in matters development despite the fact that, just the other day, his loyalty was elsewhere.
“I am now concentrating on development and not politics. I am a bishop, I must quote a biblical verse; Mathew chapter 20 that requires every worker to be paid equal amounts despite some reporting late for work,” said Khamala who vied on ANC ticket.
In a rejoinder, Shinali claimed that it was hypocritical for a leader to now claim that he was a lost sheep and must now be allowed back the prodigal way with equal opportunities.
However, the Deputy President who was presiding over the ground breaking ceremony for Navakholo Medical College asked Jubilee MPs to stop politicking and concentrate on development.
“The success or failure of our leadership will be measured by the agenda of transformation of lives of our people who gave us the mandate to work for them,” the Deputy President said.
The college will be put up at a cost of Sh60 million, with Navakholo CDF kitty contributing Sh40 million towards the project. Ruto said another Sh50 million has been set aside for procuring learning equipment for the college. He said the Jubilee Administration will not be distracted by those engaging in petty politics instead of uniting the people and initiating development projects.
A few weeks ago, Ruto was on record drawing an analogy between the unity initiative and salvation in the biblical context, saying no one should be left behind in ongoing efforts to unite the nation. “You know salvation is a good thing. There are those who accept Christ today, others will do so tomorrow but they will all get to heaven. No one gets locked out of heaven because they got saved last,” Ruto said.
The DP has set the ball rolling for his state house bid in 2022 and is assembling a team of very powerful politicians from different voting blocs.
Most people believe that greedy Kenyan politicians are circling around him to get a piece of the free-flowing cash that he has been dishing out in fund-raisers.
2022 elections have dominated Kenyan politics in recent days especially after Raila and Uhuru made peace in the famous handshake. Some analysts believe Raila has plans of ensuring the DP fails in his bid.
Senate Majority Leader, Kipchumba Murkomen sensationally claimed on Thursday that the former Prime Minister is behind the eviction of people from Mau forest. The comments have not been received well by ODM legislators.
Whatever happens, things are only bound to get tighter between Ruto and his opponents. Ironically, no other politician has come out to publicly declare that they will be running against the man from Sugoi.
Only time will tell, if the DP will maintain the steam for his bus especially with some of his foot soldiers fighting amongst themselves like it was witnessed in Kakamega on Friday.