Image: KIPLANGAT KIRUI
The succession politics in the Rift Valley have taken a new dimension after South Rift leaders asked Cabinet secretaries to stop engaging in politics.
Led by Bomet governor Prof Hillary Barchok, his Kericho counterpart Dr Erick Mutai and vocal Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ng’eno, the leaders breathe fire on the CSs from Rift saying they should stick to their mandates that they were given by President William Ruto.
They made the remarks during the launch of road machinery in Bomet Green Stadium on Wednesday.
In attendance were Bomet women representative Linet Chepkorir, Chepalungu legislator Victor Koech, Narok Deputy Governor Tamalinye Koech and his Bomet counterpart Shadrack Rotich.
The leaders said that they fully support the head of state and Kenya Kwanza government’s agenda to change and improve the living standards of Kenyans.
Without naming the CSs, they added that they would not allow a few people in the government to derail Ruto’s agendas.
Barchok warned the CS to stop threatening elected leaders so they could toe their lines.
“It is totally not in order for a CS to come to my place without informing me and start to conduct unnecessary campaigns that aim at causing divisions among the leaders and the people,” said Barchok.
He also noted that any leader who wants to visit the county should work closely with his administration to ensure the locals get a better service delivery in line with the bottom-up agenda.
“I am the governor of Bomet county and anybody who wants to bring the development agendas to my people is welcome not to engage in political squabbles,” he said.
He added that if the CSs continue with the trend, they must tell President William Ruto to relieve him of his job for failing to work within his constitutional mandate.
The county boss faulted some leaders from Bomet county for playing politics in development matters by ensuring that Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua does not preside over projects undertaken by the county government.
Barchok also said that the same leaders have been mobilising elected MPs not to attend the function just because of their political stands.
“The two MPs here are the true friends of the people and know their mandate. I am happy that they say no to puppets who are only fighting for their interests,” said Barchok.
The county chief cautioned the MCAs who have abandoned their oversight role in the county assembly and are being used to spread the succession politics that they will face the wrath of the people.
“The MCAs are now camping in Nairobi with a view of getting handouts from a particular CS as a way of showing their loyalty to him. But soon I will start moving around all the wards and ask their people if they elected to go to camp in Nairobi or play an oversight role in assembly?” posed Barchok.
On his part, Mutai said they will not allow leaders who are not from the Kipsigis community to come and dictate their leadership and developmental matters.
The county boss said that they will not allow a few people in government to perpetuate sycophancy and be dictatorial to its leaders and people because of the position they are currently holding in government.
Mutai said it is now time for the Kipsigis community to get their rightful share in the government and warned the leaders who are fond of issuing threats to elected leaders so as to dance to their tunes, that they will not allow such behaviours.
He also said that all Kipsigis leaders should be respected with the utmost respect they deserve as the people’s representatives.
“This trend of fighting Kipsigis leaders should stop. It started with the late Kipkalya Kones and former Bomet Governor Isaac Rutto and that should stop,” he remarked.
Ng’eno said that CSs should respect the decisions of the people by respecting their respective leaders.
“The CSs should do their job by serving Kenyans because that is their work, not politics because that belongs to politicians,” said Ngeno.
He said the President relies on these CSs to deliver on the pledges he made to Kenyans during the campaign period.
“The CSs and PSs are the people who the head of state depends on and they should not leave their job halfway just to do petty politics. That is wrong for them,” he said.
