Rift Valley legislators have accused President Uhuru Kenyatta of orchestrating a political campaign to marginalize Deputy William Ruto, alleging that anti-graft efforts and infrastructure delays are being weaponized to destabilize the vice president ahead of the 2022 elections.
Leaders from the region, including Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi and Senators Kipchumba Murkomen and Aaron Cheruiyot, criticized the president for allegedly using the anti-corruption drive to target Ruto while undermining development projects in their communities. They argued that the ongoing investigations into infrastructure contracts, particularly dam construction, disproportionately affect the Kalenjin population.
"You cannot claim to have a handshake with one leader while simultaneously undermining another," Murkomen stated, referencing Kenyatta's political alliance with Raila Odinga. "This is not about governance—it's about political survival for 2022." The lawmakers accused the administration of deliberately stalling a Sh20 billion water project in Bomet, which has remained unimplemented for three years.
Sudi demanded Kenyatta publicly address his relationship with Ruto, saying, "The president must stop hiding behind vague narratives and either stand with Ruto or declare he no longer needs him." The legislators emphasized their support for Kenyatta's tribal community but condemned the perceived targeting of Ruto, who they described as a loyal ally.
The accusations emerged during a funeral gathering in Bomet, where regional leaders called for an end to what they termed "political witch-hunts." Bomet Governor Joyce Laboso suggested the 2019 handshake between Kenyatta and Odinga had created unnecessary divisions within the Jubilee Party, while Kericho Senator Cheruiyot warned that the alliance risked alienating key supporters.
"This is not about development—it's about control," Cheruiyot said. "The president must choose between his allies or risk fracturing the party entirely." The leaders vowed to protect local projects from political interference, stating, "We will not let our people suffer for the sake of 2022 ambitions."
