If Deputy President William Ruto thought that his only block to getting to statehouse was having to deal with his opponents, he was so wrong if the latest developments are anything to go by. The DP now has to worry about people he has always considered as his political point-men, people he believed will help him push his Presidency agenda to a whole new level.
The Maize scandal is here, and this time it has caught up with the deputy President with leaders from his backyard calling for his investigation.
Farmers and a section of leaders from the North Rift on Saturday expressed open dissatisfaction with the way he has handled the thorny maize issue so far.
Addressing the issue, three North Rift Jubilee MPs ,Alfred Keter (Nandi Hills), Joshua Kutuny (Cherangany) and Silas Tiren (Moiben) on Saturday demanded that the DP be probed for the maize and fertiliser scandals that have rocked the country in the recent past.
“What we know is that these problems are because of the DP and his office,” Mr Keter, a long-time critic of Mr Ruto, alleged without adducing any evidence of the allegation.
Mr Kutuny pointed out that the Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri had earlier indicated that there were powerful individuals linked to the maize scam, and on this basis the DP should be probed.
“We want the DP probed because we have heard that he has been calling NCPB officials instructing them on who should be paid,” the legislator claimed, but without giving any proof too.
The MPs were speaking during a farmers’ meeting at TAC Centre in Eldoret to chart the way forward on the challenges in the sector.
The meeting was also attended by former MPs Jesse Mais (Eldoret South) and Luka Chepkitony (Keiyo North).
However, DP allies among them Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, faulted the farmers and rebel MPs from the region for politicising the maize issue.
“We should not blame the DP now and then about the maize issue when he has an obligation to protect all farmers,” said the senator. “It is the MPs from the maize zone who have let farmers down by not sponsoring motions in Parliament for more funds to be allocated for purchase of maize by the government.”
The Deputy President on the other hand trough his Press Secretary Emmanuel Talam has challenged the lawmakers to produce evidence to back their claims.
“How do I comment on mere allegations that someone says another one stole? Let them give you the evidence then we can talk,” he said.
Last week, CS Kiunjuri said that 62 individuals who are suspected to have irregularly supplied maize to the NCPB and were paid millions of shillings, will be charged in court.
Do you support the Rift Valley MPs allegations on the DPs involvement in the now famous Maize Scandal?