Declare stand on Ruto’s 2022 presidential bid, Rift Valley elders to president Kenyatta

The Rift Valley Council of Elders, patron Gilbert Kabage and fellow elders have demanded that Mr Kenyatta declare his stand on Mr Ruto’s candidature. (Courtesy)

By Kevin Kyalo

NAIROBI—The Rift Valley Council of Elders on Wednesday challenged President Uhuru Kenyatta to state whether he still supports Deputy President William Ruto’s 2022 presidential bid.

Speaking at a hotel in Nakuru, led by their patron Gilbert Kabage the elders demanded that Mr Kenyatta declare his stand on Mr Ruto’s candidature.

“We challenge President Uhuru Kenyatta to come out clear and say whether he still supports Deputy President William Ruto’s 2022 presidential bid. Does he still support him or has he changed his mind?” asked Mr Kabage.

They noted that the president stand would go a long way in mending the rift threatening to bring down Jubilee Party.

They maintained that a group of prominent people from Mt Kenya region were holding night meetings and plotting Mr Ruto’s downfall.

The elders echoed assertions by Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen last week that a clique of “individuals serving within government at the Office of the President” are fueling the problems in Jubilee.

Former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has asked  Ruto to the call Rift valley MPs and its elders to order over the allegedly Jubilee split.

“On a matter like this, Ruto should prevail upon his elders however difficult it is. Let them leave it to Ruto to sort it out with Uhuru… because he has access to Uhuru,” he said.

Khalwale noted that the president should encourage a situation where we leave things as they are and refrain from declaring whether he support Ruto’s presidential bid or not.

Legislators believed to be Ruto allies were on Wednesday trolled and mocked on twitter over their premature campaigns for Mr Ruto’s 2022 bid.

They include Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen, MPs Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu) and Kimani Ichung’wa (Kikuyu).