Details of Kalenjin tycoons’ anti-Ruto city secret talks emerge – Weekly Citizen

A new plot has been hatched to tame and dismantle William Ruto’s home support in his Kalenjin Rift Valley base.
The move has come as a plan B upon discovery that Baringo senator and Kanu leader Gideon Moi has not been able to effectively counter Ruto in the area as expected.
The plan is to rebrand former Bomet governor Isaac Ruto’s Chama Cha Mashinani by bringing on board powerful politicians who do not see eye-to-eye with the deputy president and his allies in Kalenjin politics.
Former powerful permanent secretary Internal Security during the Moi era Zakayo Cheruyoit who also served as Kuresoi South MP is one of the leading lights. Cheruyoit was one of CCM members who represented the party views to the Building Bridges Initiative team recently.
The anti-Ruto forces have managed to bring on board former Uasin Gishu gubernatorial aspirant Zedekiah Kiprop Bundotich aka Buzeki.
Last week on Wednesday, Buzeki was part of a closed-door meeting that lasted for hours bringing together a group of politicians from the Rift Valley region.

Kericho Senator Cheruiyot

Isaac Ruto

Also in attendance were Isaac Ruto, Cherangany MP Joshua Kuttuny and his Moiben counterpart Silas Tiren and Joshua Kandie of Baringo Central. We could not establish if business tycoons David Langat and Joshua Chepkwony of Kass Fm were present.
But sources say that almost all anti-DP forces were invited with some sending apologies.
At the talks, one thing was clear. Their concern being that Ruto is being isolated by powerful forces in Uhuru Kenyatta succession race and the community needs to be allied to the next vote bloc as Kikuyus are playing games with Ruto.
It also emerged that a new neutral political force in Kalenjin politics not allied to Ruto and the Moi family need to be worked on. Many are of the opinion that the bad blood between the Mois and Ruto is bound to cost the community.
It is imperative to note that Ruto sponsored Joyce Laboso to clinch the Bomet county seat after beating Chama Cha Mashinani’s party leader Ruto in 2017. With pressure on the deputy president, at one time, talk was rife that Ruto had reportedly taken over the CCM party.
The DP allies, however, met Ruto and he even hosted the DP in Bomet. Alfred Keter, the Nandi Hills MP has also been associated with CCM of late.

Sholei

Uasin Gishu woman representative Gladys Shollei is also said not to get on well with deputy president. She was recently booed by a section of Eldoret residents during the Eldoret city marathon.
Trouble began for her when she distanced herself from factions within the Jubilee party, ‘Tanga Tanga’ and ‘Kieleweke’.
“You will never see me in Tanga Tanga or Kieleweke movement’s function. This is because I believe in development and not politics. That’s why you don’t see me moving around with them,” said Sholei amid jeers from the locals.
During the Nairobi talks, those present agreed, Chama Cha Mashinani party was to be rebranded and Ruto assured them it had not been “sold”.
He said CCM is intact and independent, contrary to reports being “peddled around” by some politicians and residents.
For now, it was agreed that CCM will not field a presidential candidate in 2022, but it is open for talks with other parties on a possible coalition. To start with, CCM will have networks in all Rift Valley constituencies as it expects a major fall out in Jubilee it will benefit from as many will not move to Kanu. Sources say CCM’s move not to sponsor a presidential candidate is to play safe not to be seen as fighting Ruto and Gideon all who have expressed interest in fighting for the highest seat. If it sponsors one, the party will be seen as spoiling for Ruto presidency as Gideon is perceived on the ground.

Buzeki

In 2017, Buzeki declined to step down in favour of Ruto’s ally and incumbent governor Jackson Mandago.
Buzeki is from the Keiyo community in a county where the Nandis dominate.
For now, CCM party is emerging as a powerful alternative political vehicle for the community going by recent events. CCM party leader has held talks with powerful prominent Rift Valley leaders and key allies of the DP at his Chepalungu home.
Governors Mandago of Uasin Gishu, Paul Chepkwony, Kericho, Samwel Tunai, Narok, John Lonyangapuo, West Pokot) and Kericho senator Haroun Cheruiyot have visited Isaac’s home.
Others who attended the talks were Chepalungu MP Gideon Koskei of CCM, Farouk Kibet, 11 CCM MCAs and the party’s former aspirants for various positions in the last general election also attended the meeting.
Ruto allies takeover of CCM failed upon discovery that a section in the deputy president’s innercore, moreso, from Kipsigisland were not comfortable with the move, one notable being Governor Laboso who will face Isaac again in 2022.