Tugen elders have invalidated the endorsement of Deputy President William Ruto as a community elder by the Lembus Sub-clan following a ceremony that saw him given various 'tools of power' on May 19.
The leaders maintained that the ceremony was conducted without consulting the Miot (Council of Elders) as well as their Pokot and Ilchamus equivalents.
Furthermore, they asserted that Ruto's move to return the traditional regalia he was adorned with after being crowned was contrary to Tugen culture and rendered the insallation invalid.
“In Tugen culture, it is a taboo to return a garment or any other item after crowning someone. It automatically means the entire process has been revoked or rendered invalid,” Tugen elder Joseph Noti was quoted.
Kimitei Kiplagat, 93, had asked the DP to return his shawl or sambut as he did not consent to its use in the ceremony and Jonah Taalam delivered it to him on Saturday evening.
[caption caption="Kimitei Kiplagat receives his regalia from Jonah Taalam on May 26 in Kapkoi village, Eldama Ravine after it was returned"]
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Taalam had to face the elders who reportedly berated him in a 6-hour meeting for using the shawl without the owner's consent.
The elders who have distanced themselves from the ceremony described it as 'a disgraceful fiasco'.
The group's Secretary Rev Zacharia Chirchir further asked the Lembus sub-clan elders to apologize to the DP.
“I haven’t heard of this. If true, we are so sorry for the embarrassment caused to the DP,” he stated.
At the now controversial ceremony, the elders vowed not to endorse any other leader including those from Baringo County and tasked Ruto with charting the community's political direction.
"After scrutinising you for a long time, we have chosen you from the long list of our leaders to take over as President in 2022," Elijah Kimanyin told the DP.
[caption caption="DP Ruto being installed as a Tugen elder on May 19, 2018 in Baringo County"]
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