A Catholic priest has hit out at Deputy President William Ruto accusing him of trying to kill political competition in Rift Valley.
In an interview in Kericho with the Nation, Segemik Parish Priest Ambrose Kimutai said the Constitution was clear that all Kenyans had the right to form or join a political party of their choice.
He stated that it was unfair for the DP to attack Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto for registering his new party, Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM), and criticising Gideon Moi for not joining Jubilee.
“William Ruto has a right to join the Jubilee Party as much as Isaac Ruto and Baringo Senator Gideon Moi also have the right to join CCM and Kanu respectively. We do not like the situation where the DP is trying to force the other two to leave their parties and join Jubilee," he noted.
The priest, who was at the forefront in pushing for multiparty politics in Kenya during the Moi era, further dismissed a popular belief that the rise of several political parties in the Rift Valley had led to a division among the Kalenjin people.
“Political parties just came to Kenya a few years ago yet for hundreds of years the Kalenjin people were already united by language, beliefs, customs among other factors. Kalenjin people can join any party they want.They don't need to be in one party to appear united," he added.
He urged the DP to call a leaders’ meeting bringing together all the Kalenjin leaders across the country for a meeting to tame the growing rivalry between him and Governor Ruto.