Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter is in trouble has been warned not to show up in Nandi and Uasin Gishu counties after he attacked Deputy President William Ruto.
The residents are now urging him to apologise to the deputy president to be allowed in to the counties
This came after residents from both counties matched in demos lifting placards dubbed ‘Keter Must Go’, although police prevented angry residents from staging protests in Nandi Hills town.
Local leaders from both counties said that Mr Keter who happens to be a Jubilee Party member, was not welcome until he had apologized to the DP for speaking ill against him.
Mr Keter wrath started after he was caught on tape tape pouring cold water on Mr Ruto’s 2022 presidential chances, where he said that the Deputy President was and is not the right person to lead the country after President Uhuru Kenyatta had completed his term.
In the video, whose authenticity has so far not been challenged by Mr Keter, was heard asking voters from the Rift Valley region to support other candidates other than the DP, whose integrity is currently in question.
However ,the comments have not been received well by Mr Ruto’s supporters in the two counties, where he enjoys the biggest support in the Rift Valley.
Mr Ruto’s rural home is in Uasin Gishu, which neighbours Nandi, where Mr Keter hails from.
It is not clear whether the outspoken MP has taken heed of the warnings, but he has not been seen in either of the counties since the video clip came to the public.
However Mr. Keter has been reported to be out of the country since he uttered those words.
It was not immediately clear when he travelled and for how long he would be away.
In Uasin Gishu, Assembly Majority Leader Josphat Lowoi and deputy Speaker Hosea Korir did not mince their words.
They insisted that Mr Keter was not welcome in the county until he apologised.
According to Mr.Lowoi, “We are annoyed by the endless attacks on our Deputy President by Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter. His continued attacks are meant to derail the DP’s 2022 plans and we cannot allow that as Jubilee Leaders from Uasin Gishu county.”
This comes a day after the National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi rejected a plot to amend the Constitution to bar Deputy President William Ruto from vying for the presidency in the next General Election.
Through a petition to the House, some members of parliament feels it is not right for the DP to be vying for the top seat come 2022.
Accpording to Kisumu Central MP Fred Ouda all deputy governors who have served two terms should be blocked from succeeding their bosses in subsequent elections.
However, Leader of Majority Aden Duale (Garissa Township) and his Minority colleague John Mbadi (Suba South) led other members in calling for dismissal of the motion, terming it frivolous.
However, the Speaker defended the MP’s right to table his proposals after members unanimously opposed its tabling.
“This is a matter that is weighty,” Mr Muturi said before subjecting the matter to a vote.
The Speaker had initially directed that the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee consider the petition and report to the House within 60 days.
Mr Ouda later addressed the media to fault the House decision, insisting that the term of the President and Deputy President is one and the same.
“The election of the President and the DP are intertwined. They both derive their authority directly from the electorate and, as such, they are only eligible to hold the office of the presidency for a maximum of two five-year terms.”