President Uhurus political adviser Joshua Kutunyi has been accused of being among those undermining Deputy President William Ruto in the Rift Valley region. A section of MPs and youth leaders from the counties in the region say Kutunyi is working with Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter to discredit Ruto in his political backyard. Kutunyi has been accused of hosting meetings at his office to scheme against Ruto. The former Cheranganyi MP has however defended himself terming his accusers as misguided agents sent to cause further confusion in the regions politics. I cannot undermine myself by engaging in such politics. I have been given a job by the President and my work is to reach out to all leaders including Keter and ensure that we are working as one, Kutunyi told the Star on the phone yesterday. But the youth leaders who spoke at a meeting in Eldoret said they are aware that Kutunyi and Keter held meetings at an office in Nairobi to plot how to undermine Ruto. Turbo MP Elisha Busienei, who spoke during Madaraka Day Celebrations in Eldoret on Sunday accused politicians from Trans Nzoia of crossing over to Uasin Gishu to undermine Ruto and other local leaders. Kutunyi is from Trans Nzoia county. Busienei said they will not allow meetings aimed at undermining elected leaders. We voted for Jubilee with Ruto as our leader in this region and we are not going to change our stand. We are fully behind Ruto and we will resist attempts by self seekers to undermine the Deputy President, said youth spokesman Kiprotich Cherargei. The youth leaders have also linked Baringo Senator Gideon Moi to Ruto’s troubles but he could not be reached for comment. Kutunyi is accused of shifting his political allegiance from Ruto to Uhuru. Other youth leaders who hit out at Kutunyi included Toroitich Kiprono, Nixon Cheplong and Brian Koskei among other youth leaders from Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Kericho, Bomet and Trans Nzoia among other areas. Keter has been attending many forums in the region where he openly hits at Ruto accusing him of betraying the Kalenjin community especially following the removal of Kiplimo Rugut from the National Youth Service. Two weeks ago Kutunyi and Keter attended a church fundraising at Kesses near Eldoret and the youth have questioned how the two were invited to the same function. The youth leaders have however vowed to carry out meetings to counter Keter accusing him of being a political broker who was being used by Rutos detractors. Rugut was not sacked, he was juts transfered like any other civil servants and that cannot be a reason for Keter and his group to undermine Ruto. They are being used for a different political agenda, said Cherargei. Cheplong said President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy should not be worried of the political noise in the region which they said was being made by selfish leaders.
Posted on: Tue, 03 Jun 2014 17:13:25 +0000