By Anderson Ojwang
Political rivalries could be unfolding in the North Rift, the home turf of President William Ruto.
While President Ruto is traversing the country and building alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections, all is not well in his backyard of North Rift.
The political unity witnessed during the 2022 general election has currently been put to test and could be undermining Ruto’s 2027 political strategy and campaigns.
Interestingly, South and Central Rift have remained calm, but the battle over the post-2027 elections and the supremacy battle clouding President Ruto’s agenda is heating up in North Rift.
What is cooking?
Among those sparring are his key appointees in the government: Internal Security Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen from Marakwet and the Principal Secretary for the Treasury, Dr Kiptoo, a Keiyo.
The battle has been escalated down to the elected leaders, who have rolled up their sleeves in a fierce contest.
2027 politics and the kingpin
Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot was shocked by the political fights and rising political temperatures in the North Rift region.
The Senate Majority Leader appealed to the leaders to resolve the differences internally without washing their dirty linen in public.
He was concerned over political tension between Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago and Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim.
“As leaders, you should have sorted the differences internally without bringing the issues out in the open to the people,” he said.
What is the problem?
What could be happening at the President’s backyard of North Rift? Why is there fire and rising political tension in the region at a time when President William Ruto is consolidating other regions?
While President Ruto is busy building bridges and seeking votes across the country, at his home turf, fire is consuming his political foundation and threatening to undermine it.
At the backyard of President William Ruto in North Rift, a fierce battle has broken out over what could have been precipitated by the post-2027 elections and supremacy battle.
Battle lines drawn
The battle lines have been drawn and do not only pit the two top leaders from the region – Internal Security Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen against Treasury Principal Secretary Dr Kiptoo – but are fast spreading to other elected leaders.
The two leaders hold the most crucial positions in President Ruto’s administration and have been viewed as the face of the Kalenjin community from the North Rift.
Uasin Gishu Senator Mandago has accused Murkomen of being preoccupied with presidential ambition and kingpin aspirations.
But Murkomen dismissed the allegation, saying he supports every elected leader from the region, including Mandago.
“For me, I am not looking for any vote. My job is to support the President and those who have been elected,” he said.
He said the Kalenjin community should focus on President Ruto’s second term and not sideshows.
Murkomen wondered why there was a campaign for “kingpin” and “queenpin.”
“Let us support Ruto. That is the agenda we have now. Let us forget what is in the forest; its time is still far away,” he said.
Murkomen said he will not be bothered by the attacks but was committed to supporting President Ruto.
“If I hear someone saying Murkomen is bad, I only say thank you. Because it is God’s love and will that I am where I am today,” he said.
The fight
Kesses MP Julius Rutto accused Murkomen of waging war on PS Dr Kiptoo over his development programmes in the county.
“We have a problem. For those people whom the President has appointed, and if you are a Cabinet Secretary like that one of Internal Security, your duty is also to bring Kenyans together. Your work is to support the President’s agenda and other elected leaders,” he said.
He said Murkomen was engaging in local politics instead of serving Kenyans and creating confusion in the community.
“When you see the CS has forgotten about his role and he has come back to engage in local politics. Today you are in Kericho creating confusion and chaos, and then you move to Bomet. In Keiyo, you are fighting the Principal Secretary of the National Treasury, Dr Chris Kiptoo,” he said.
Rutto said the PS was engaged in planning the national treasury and the economy while Murkomen was waging unnecessary war against him.
“Dr Kiptoo is not engaged in politics but planning the national treasury and helping grow the economy. What is wrong if Kiptoo takes development to the people? Why are you feeling jealous of him? What is wrong if the PS has the support of people at home? The PS is only doing the noble duty of development at home. It is common fact that the local leadership and the community support Kiptoo for his development programmes,” he said.
The MP accused the CS of recently visiting Uasin Gishu with a view to causing political confusion.
“Recently you came to our county and tried to cause confusion by calling us tribal. Senator Mandago, when he was the governor, employed all communities. We had two CECs from Marakwet,” he said.
He accused Murkomen of only employing people from his region in the recent police recruitment exercise.
“In the recent police recruitment, records show that you only employed people from your area and ignored North Rift,” he claimed.
Rebuttal
But Keiyo South MP Gideon Kimaiyo, Murkomen’s ally, said they will not allow any form of attack on the Cabinet Secretary.
“I want to tell those who want to play with Murkomen. Murkomen is our son. There are some leaders who want to undermine Murkomen,” he warned.
He said attempts to undermine Murkomen will be rebuffed at all cost.
“Even though Murkomen is a national leader, he is our leader here at home. We will not allow some people to undermine Murkomen. I want to tell those leaders, if you see us silent, know that Murkomen also has his home and people,” he said.
