Inside Ruto Allies Plot to Block Raila From Nakuru BBI Rally

by Stephanie Wangari on Friday, 13 March 2020 - 7:59 am

Ruto-allied lawmakers led by Meru Senator Mithika Linturi during a press briefing at Parliament Buildings on Wednesday, March 11, 2020

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Deputy President William Ruto's allies have vowed to take full charge of the Nakuru BBI meeting which is set to happen on Saturday, March 21.

The DP's allies stated that they would not allow leaders who are not from the region to take over the meeting.

In previous BBI rallies across other counties, ODM leader Raila Odinga has been on the forefront, something that a section of the Rift Valley leaders stated they would not allow.

Deputy President William Ruto and former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale during the requiem mass for Adelaide Khalwale at Malinya village in Ikolomani, Kakamega County on October 10, 2019.

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Further, the leaders stated that they would use the meetings to celebrate the first-ever handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and the DP.

It was at Nakuru's Afraha Stadium where the head of state and his deputy announced that they had decided to contest the 2013 General Election together.

The leaders who were led by Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen and Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika, were speaking from Parliament Buildings.

“All Kenyans are welcome to Nakuru and as we have said, we want the Nakuru rally to be different from others and very inclusive. Nakuru is a small town in Kenya. If you are coming to bring any insults or abuses we shall not allow you,” Kihika declared.

"Nakuru is the epicentre of peace because, without it, we would have no Jubilee. We want to welcome all leaders to the rally but there will be no name-calling," Murkomen added.

On Thursday evening, March 12, however, National Assembly Minority Whip Junet Mohamed stated that ODM politicians would be in Nakuru to attend a meeting organised by Governor Lee Kinyanjui and not Tanga Tanga leaders.

This comes three days after the president held a consultative meeting with governors from Rift Valley who briefed him on the planning of the upcoming Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) rally.

The governors assured the president of their full backing of the BBI process and undertook to ensure unity and inclusion of all stakeholders in the run-up to the Nakuru rally.

Some of his peers who met Kenyatta at State House included, John Lonyangapuo (West Pokot), Jackson Mandago (Eldoret), Lee Kinyanjui (Nakuru), Alex Tolgos (Elgeyo Marakwet), Hillary Barchok (Bomet), Paul Chepkwony (Kericho), Stanely Kiptis (Baringo), Ndiritu Muriithi (Laikipia) and Josphat Nanok (Turkana).