Deputy President William Ruto and Interior CS Fred Matiang’i have allegedly got into a vicious fight over the tendering process of the new police uniforms. While Fred Matiang’i prefer’s to have the uniforms made locally by the NYS, Ruto has been alleged to be fighting for another entity to be granted the tender.
CS Matiang’i has however stood his ground and insisted that he will not be arm twisted to make decisions that are likely to lead to the loss of funds.
This has set the tone for an ever growing battle of Supremacy between Ruto and Matiang’i.
One of the most dramatic clashes between the two took place in September 2016 when Matiang’i was then Education Minister.
Ruto’s allies led by two governors and several MPs stormed Moi University to stop newly appointed acting Vice Chancellor Laban Ayiro from taking over.
Matiang’i had appointed Ayiro to replace outgoing VC Richard Mibey whose term ended had ended.
But Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago with Elgeyo Marakwet’s Alex Tolgos, said they wanted a fellow Kalenjin, Prof Isaac Kosgey, appointed as they said he had “topped recruitment interviews”.
Ruto then asked Matiang’i to appoint Kosgey but Matiang’i refused, insisting that Ayiro was the most qualified to take over the leadership of the university.
“The CS then wrote a letter instructing himself to appoint Kosgey and wanted the DP to sign it. Ruto took the letter and tore it up,” a source in the Office of the President said.