On 20 November 2018, a public split opened up among Jubilee MPs from the Rift Valley after a group of legislators called for Deputy President William Ruto to be investigated over the maize and fertiliser scandals.
Eleven MPs defended the Deputy President and dismissed the push for a probe as a political attack meant to weaken his presidential ambitions. They accused their colleagues of acting as “cheap hired mercenaries” for Ruto’s enemies and said the criticism had nothing to do with helping farmers.
The lawmakers backing Mr Ruto were Aaron Cheruiyot, Nixon Korir, Caleb Kositany, Robert Pukose, William Kisang, Lodepe Nakara, Moses Lesonnet, Kangogo Bowen, Slyvanus Maritim, Nelson Koech and Japhet Mutai. In a statement read at Parliament Buildings on Monday, they said the MPs demanding action were using the suffering of farmers to advance their own political interests.
The row followed remarks made on Sunday by Alfred Keter, Joshua Kutuny and Silas Tiren during a farmers’ meeting at TAC Centre in Eldoret. The three said the Deputy President should be probed over the maize crisis, with Mr Keter stating, “What we know is that these problems are because of the DP and his office,” without presenting evidence.
Mr Kositany, who read the statement, said the three legislators had offered no solutions for farmers and were instead being used to slow down the Deputy President politically. He also described Mr Keter as a “known criminal,” saying he was facing numerous forgery and theft cases amounting to hundreds of millions of shillings. He added: “The allegations … are neither factual nor believable.”
Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot and Robert Pukose of Endebess acknowledged that the maize sector was facing problems, but said blaming Mr Ruto was not the answer. Mr Cheruiyot said the critics were taking advantage of every government crisis and warned that their backers would soon be named. He also accused them of failing to raise farmers’ concerns in the House, despite being elected leaders.
The dispute exposed growing tension within Jubilee ranks in the Rift Valley, with both sides trading accusations over who was genuinely defending farmers and who was pursuing a political agenda.
