Members of Parliament from Rift Valley region have come out to defend Deputy President William Ruto from allegations made by their colleagues that he should be probed over maize and fertilizer scandals in the country.
Led by Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot the lawmakers claimed that their counterparts were taking advantage of the challenges facing farmers to tarnish DP Ruto’s name and for their own political mileage.
Section of Rift Valley MPs led by Soy MP Caleb Kositany and Kericho senator Aaron Cheruiyot accuse 3 North Rift MPs, who called for DP Ruto’s investigation over the maize and fertilizer scandals, of using farmers’ plight to further their own political agenda. pic.twitter.com/hMoFR1EMhM
— Collo ™ (@Collins__Kibet) November 19, 2018
“These are people with hidden agenda that is why you see in all their press conferences their target is to malign the name of the Deputy President,” Cheruiyot said.
“Whenever there are challenges in the country, all they do is to try and see how they can link DP Ruto and we are telling them enough is enough,” he added.
Soy MP Caleb Kositany and his Endebess counterpart Robert Pukose urged farmers not to pay attention to what the three had to say stating that they have no any solution to offer and are only being used by Ruto’s political detractors.
The leaders urged their colleagues to sit down with Jubilee leadership and find a permanent solution for the challenges that the country is facing instead of creating wrangles for selfish gain.
Elsewhere, Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, a staunch DP Ruto ally dismissed the claims by Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter, Cherangany MP Joshua Kutuny and their Moiben counterpart Silas Teren.
Mr Sudi termed the three as brokers and fell short of claiming that they were being bankrolled by Baringo Senator Gideon Moi to taint the DP’s name.
Keter, Kutuny and Teren said that DP has been giving false promises to the maize farmers and he should be investigated over scandals that have unfolded.
On November 16, Tiren was among a group of leaders who accompanied Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka as he paid a courtesy call to retired president Daniel Arap Moi at his home in Kabarak.
Moiben MP Silas Tiren hadearlier asked the EACC to make public its findings on the Sh 1.9 billion maize purchase at the National Cereals and Produce Board.
He said it had delayed payment of Sh1.4 billion to maize farmers. The payment, which was to be made earlier than delayed as part of the Sh5 billion owed to farmers.