Jubilee warned of looming dissent in the Rift Valley

The Jubilee administration has been warned of looming rebellion from their backyards in the Rift Valley region.

Speaking on Monday, Bomet governor Isaac Ruto cautioned President Kenyatta and his Deputy, William Ruto not to underrate the boiling political heat currently unfolding in the region.

“Our people are beginning to get tired. People are realising that this is a coalition between the DP and the President and not between parties... it is only a matter of time before things get out of hand,” the Bomet governor was reported to have said, adding that the region was asking legitimate questions which the President and his Deputy were arrogantly ignoring.

“When we ask questions about Kiplimo Rugut, we need clear answers. When the DP comes out and takes responsibility for his sacking, we are shocked,” Mr Ruto stated.

Mr Rugut, who was the director general of the National Youth Service got transferred and replaced by Dr Nelson Githinji, causing an uproar within the Deputy President's party, URP.

The Bomet governor has asked the Deputy President to listen to the voice of the people and warned him that the region was unhappy with the Jubilee government.

Governor Ruto also accused some of the Deputy President’s close allies of masterminding attempts to impeach governors in the Rift Valley region. He attributed the recent wave of impeachment motions in the Rift Valley to Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and his Kericho counterpart Charles Keter.

“We have come to learn that the impeachment of Prof Paul Chepkwony was initiated by one of the senators,” he said, further saying that the same senators are behind threats against Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos and Baringo’s Benjamin Cheboi.

The Elgeyo Marakwet Senator, Kipchumba Murkomen has however denied the accusations levelled against him and Mr Charles Keter saying that it was insulting for the MCAs and county assemblies to claim that they were being pushed.

Meanwhile on Monday, Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter accused the Jubilee administration of discriminating against Rift Valley civil servants.

‘‘We are being kicked out of plum jobs to make way for other people. We know Rugut was removed because of the planned Sh10 billion cash injection into the NYS,” he said.

Mr Rugut's transfer has led to a bid by some Jubilee MPs led by Igembe’s Mithika Linturi to impeach Devolution Secretary Anne Waiguru who effected it.

The National Assembly Majority Leader Adan Duale dismissed this saying Ms Waiguru could not be faulted for doing her job and criticised Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter for leading an anti-Jubilee crusade in the Rift Valley. He also downplayed claims that the Jubilee administration was giving the URP wing a raw deal in public appointments adding that many other government officers were moved on the day Mr Rugut was transferred.

He also supported Ms Waiguru saying she was one of the best performers in the Cabinet.