Ruto reveals why he ditched URP, his relationship with DP Ruto

Ruto reveals why he ditched URP, his relationship with DP Ruto

Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto has stated that the Constitution allows him to quit the United Republican Party (URP) ahead of the next elections.

Speaking on Citizen TV’s Cheche show on Wednesday, Ruto said URP, the party that sponsored him to Governorship in 2013, is non-existent owing to formation of the Jubilee Party giving him room to form his new Mashinani Development Party of Kenya (MDP Kenya).

According to Article 38 (1) of the Constitution, every citizen is free to make political choices, which includes the right to form, or participate in forming, a political party, to participate in the activities of, or recruit members for, a political party; or to campaign for a political party or cause.

The Political Parties Act 2011 Section 14 (4), however, states that: “A person shall not be a member of more than one political party at the same time.”

The Act further states that a person who, while being a member of a political party, forms another party, joins in the formation of another party, joins another party, publicly advocates for the formation of another party or promotes the ideology, interest or policies of another party shall be deemed to have resigned from the previous political party.

Governor Ruto, however, says that the law only applies to Members of Parliament and Members of the County Assemblies (MCAs) and not Governors, despite the known consideration that it is applicable to all political leaders.

He said his opposition of the dissolution of URP and formation of Jubilee Party is advised by his omission from the decision making process yet he was among the key founders of the party.

“William Ruto, Charles Keter, Joshua Kutuny and I were the founders of URP and yet we were not consulted during its purported disbandment. It is wrong for only two to meet and decide to dissolve the party,” he lamented.

He claimed that Jubilee is using police to frustrate his progress making reference to a situation last week where a rally he had organised was prematurely terminated.

He said that he decided to ditch URP because it focuses on top-down approach in issues resolution and uses power to influence decisions making in the county level.

“I want to provide alternative power to existing parties that has turned people into sycophants. I believe that the existing parties are driving the economy through the supply side instead of demand side.”

The Governor said he was motivated to form the Mashinani Party in order to offer alternative leadership that does not focus on national government but on devolved governments.

“Mashinani Party will focus on devolution and how to improve the rural people. All other parties are the same; they are tribal outfits that push for their person agenda.”

On the perceived differences with Deputy President William Ruto, the Governor said there are no personal disagreements with the DP.

“I only differ with DP Ruto on developmental issues and nothing personal. However, I don’t believe that I need his support to win the elections, I only need the people’s support.”

He said his party already has presence in 24 counties in accordance to the Political Parties Act and has been registered at the Registrar of Political Parties.

Odinga’s runningmate reports

Asked whether he is being groomed to be CORD leader Raila Odinga’s running mate in 2017, Ruto said: “We have not discussed being Raila’s running mate. Kalonzo was his running mate in the previous elections and I have no ambitions of taking up the positions.”

He declined to discuss names of his party officials at the national level saying it is his role to protect them in these early stages of the party formation since some of them are MPs elected on other party tickets.

The Governor said his party will not field a candidate for the Kericho by-elections since they have not commenced grassroots elections saying they are contemplating supporting Paul Sang of KANU.

“We will tell Kenyans who the officials are and what the party’s manifesto is during out launch to be announced in due course.”

Development record

Governor Ruto said that in his tenure, he had set up several development projects in the county that have helped raise the living standards of the people.

“We have improved road networks, made water available in hospitals and ensured there are enough drugs in hospitals,” stated Ruto.

“We have also improved the number of health facilities in the county from 60 to 135 and increased the number of doctors in hospitals.”

Ruto further stated that the county government has ensured that anyone above 70 years of age gets Ksh 2,000 monthly stipend and free medical cover through the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).

Budgetary allocation

On county allocations, the Governor noted that lack of proper facilitation from the national government has been a crippling factor in his development agenda noting that the national budget does not have any impact on people on the ground.

“Revenue sharing is still a thorny issue and as Governors we are not convinced that the government is committed in resolving the issue,” he stated.

“The government has frustrated efforts by counties to access sovereign bonds yet they go ahead and borrow from different international markets.”

“It has been impossible, for example, to get Ksh 2 billion from the government to fund water projects in Bomet County; an amount that we could have easily accessed from the international market.”

Among other issues that are still contentious include administration of donor funding and actual implementation of transfer of functions despite the term of the Transition Authority coming to an end in March 2015.

Other than Ruto, Meru Governor Peter Munya has also announced that he will defy the call for the dissolution of affiliate parties in the Jubilee Coalition in favour of the newly formed Jubilee Party.

Machakos Governor Dr. Alfred Mutua has also formed a new outfit (Maendeleo Chap Chap Movement) which he has termed as a political movement aimed at championing the development agenda in the country.

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Isaac Ruto Bomet governor

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