Jubilee leaders should use Nakuru rally to repent – MP Alfred Keter

Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter has called on Jubilee leaders to use the thanksgiving rally at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru to repent for the ills committed in their three years of leadership.

Keter said that the country has been cast into a state of utter desperation as a result of rampant cases of corruption and looting of public resources going in and out of government.

The legislator stated that it would be unfair for President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto to celebrate the collapse of their cases at the International Criminal Court (ICC) while some victims of the 2007/08 Post Election Violence are living in anguish and melancholy.

“As we speak there are people who are bearing the brunt of the 2007/08 PEV. Just yesterday one of the victims who has been in hospital since 2008 died and was buried at Kapseret in Eldoret,” he stated.

“There is no problem with holding a thanksgiving ceremony, but first the leaders should repent for the trouble that they have caused the country and rampant cases of corruption in government.”

Keter further stated that the current exigency facing the banking sector is as a result of flagrant corruption in the country saying the get-rich-quick mentality perpetuated by leaders in government had led Kenyans into betting in order to make quick cash.

“The tolerated corruption in government has infiltrated into the minds of Kenyans who would now do anything to get quick cash,” he stated.

Despite their differences that have in past months played out in the public, Keter came to the defence of Ruto over ICC cases saying the deputy president had nothing to do with the 2007/08 violence.

“The violence that broke out in 2007 was spontaneous and resulted from the high expectations that Kenyans had and popular perception that ODM would win the elections,” said Keter.

“We cannot, therefore, pin the violence on DP Ruto because he is innocent of the allegations levelled against him.”

The rally has also been criticized by CORD leader Raila Odinga who claimed it was akin to dancing on the post-election violence victims’ graves.

In a statement to newsrooms, Raila stated that: “as we reflect on the cessation of our engagement with ICC regarding the post-election violence, we must moan the continued lack of justice for those who were killed, the helpless women who were raped and the multitude of persons who lost their homes and were displaced,” stated Raila Odinga who is in France.

“Clearly, as a nation, there is nothing to celebrate about. Instead, we have to reflect on the many critical decisions that we need to make. We have many people who we still need to condole and reparate and a national sense of justice that needs to be reconfirmed.”

The Saturday event is set to be attended by President Kenyatta, his deputy Ruto and a host of Jubilee leaders.

CORD has since organised a parallel rally at Laini Saba in Kibra in support of post election violence victims.

Reports however indicate that none of the coalition principals will be in attendance as they have other engagements. Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka are in France and Portugal respectively, while their co-principal Moses Wetangula will be in Bungoma County for a burial service.

@benjaminwafula