Why is Ruto still supporting the ODM top when they did not give him support during the censure motion against him?
March 11th, 2009
ODM bosses wanted Ruto to quit, says MP
Agriculture minister William Ruto joins traditional dances at a recent public rally in Kapsabet. Some ODM ministers had advised him to quit from the Cabinet to allow for investigations into the maize scandal. Photo/JARED NYATAYA
Konoin MP Julius Kones on Tuesday claimed that Prime Minister Raila Odinga advised Agriculture minister William Ruto to step aside ahead of the confidence motion in Parliament.
Mr Kones said: “I can confirm Mr Ruto was asked by Mr Odinga to step aside ahead of the censure motion. But Mr Ruto said let the motion be used either to get me out or allow me to continue with my job.”
The allegation comes on the back of complaints by MPs from Rift Valley that the top Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leadership did not offer enough support to Mr Ruto when he faced a censure motion over the mismanagement of maize stocks.
“Mr Ruto would have resigned if he had lost the censure motion, but he was not prepared to resign before the vote. The top party leadership abandoned him.
"We heard nothing from the top leadership until a day before the vote when we had already gathered enough support to defeat the motion. Their silence and the disappearance of some of them during the day of the vote showed that they were not supporting him,” Mr Kones said.
Mr Ruto declined to comment, but an official in the Prime Minister’s office, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to comment said the PM gave no such advice and that he staunchly supported Mr Ruto.
Mr Musa Sirma, a nominated MP, said: “Mr Odinga called me a day before the voting and asked what the way forward was. I told him we were trying our best.
"At that moment we were meeting at International Bible Society in Kilimani and we already had the support of Coast, North Eastern, parts of Western and parts of Central. Mr Odinga assured us of support.”
Mr Kones said Mr Odinga advised Mr Ruto to step aside to allow for investigations into the maize scandal, on promise he would be reinstated once he had been cleared of any wrongdoing.
During the swearing-in of the coalition Cabinet early last year, President Kibaki warned the new ministers that they would be required to step aside to pave way for investigations if they were linked to scandals.
Former Finance minister Amos Kimunya resigned and was re-appointed to the Trade ministry after investigations.
On Tuesday, Mr Kones said Mr Odinga’s advice was followed by calls by key allies of Mr Odinga — Lands minister James Orengo and Finance assistant minister Oburu Oginga — on Mr Ruto to resign.
Mr Ruto lobbied MPs to defeat the motion brought by Ikolomani MP Bonny Khalwale by 119 to 22 votes.
Even after the victory, Mr Ruto’s allies were unhappy at what they saw as failure of key ODM leaders to turn up in the House at his hour of need.
On Tuesday, Cherangany MP Joshua Kutuny, a close ally of Mr Ruto, claimed the ODM leadership abandoned the minister.
“On the day of the censure Motion against Mr Ruto, the party chairman (Industrialisation minister Henry Kosgey) was not there. The party leader (Mr Odinga) himself was absent.
"The party secretary-general (Medical Services minister Anyang’ Nyong’o) and party deputy leader (deputy PM Musalia Mudavadi) were nowhere. How can the party be intact if its main leaders were absent during an important motion like this?” he asked.
Others who were absent were Mr Orengo, joint coalition Chief Whip Jakoyo Midiwo who was out of the country at the time and some MPs from Nyanza.
The source from The PM's office said Mr Odinga convened a party meeting at his Treasury office and a committee was formed to investigate the maize scandal and protect the Eldoret North MP. The official said the PM called his brother, Dr Oburu Oginga, the same day he (Dr Oginga) demanded Mr Ruto’s resignation and reprimanded him.
He said that Dr Oginga held meetings with MPs from Nyanza who agreed to support Mr Ruto.
The official said Mr Odinga also met Mr Ruto on the eve of the Motion where he told him: “Face the House and we (ODM) will support you.”
At a series of meetings over the weekend, MPs loyal to Mr Ruto charged that Mr Odinga was actually the secret sponsor of the censure Motion.
But on Tuesday, Dr Khalwale dismissed the allegations. He challenged Mr Ruto to confront his problems instead of seeking refugee in political games.
“It is high time Ruto stopped chasing the mirage of Khalwale in any political problem he is faced with. He should make up his mind as to whether it was (Justice minister) Martha Karua, (Lugari MP) Cyrus Jirongo, (deputy PM) Musalia Mudavadi or Raila who was behind the motion,” he said.
Form alliance
Reports have also indicated that Mr Ruto was seeking to form an alliance with deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta. However, Energy assistant minister Charles Keter has denied the reports. “I am not aware that Kalenjins or Ruto have agreed to enter an alliance with anybody,” he said.
Mr Ruto’s confidence vote came hot on the heels of a mini-Cabinet reshuffle in which Buret MP Franklin Bett got the Roads ministry docket that was left vacant following the death of Mr Kipkalya Kones. Mr Ruto preferred Mr Keter, a close ally whom Rift Valley MPs were sure would get the position.
Mr Ruto’s supporters argue that even in the appointment of ambassadors, heads of parastatals and key public service positions, the Rift Valley has been given a raw deal. “What we need in our party is sincerity and honesty which are lacking at the moment,” said Baringo Central MP Sammy Mwaita.
However, sources close to the PM said there were only two principals in the Grand Coalition who had a say on cabinet appointments – the President and Mr Odinga. Mr Ruto, they declared, was not one of them.
Sources close to Mr Ruto said he feels isolated by the ODM leadership even though his region voted overwhelmingly for Mr Odinga.
Still, Rift Valley MPs also point out that Mr Odinga’s decision to support the implementation of the Waki report was driven by the motive to tame Mr Ruto. Although the Agriculture minister voted for a local tribunal, he has publicly said he wants The Hague to take over the case of post election violence suspects.
The latest difference involves the decision by ODM to demand the renegotiation of the National Accord. This position has been opposed by Rift Valley MPs who insist they must stick in Government.
Additional reporting by Njeri Rugene
source.nation.ke