Ruto team returns to Sebei sub-region today
Kenya Deputy president William Ruto.
Kampala.
A team of politicians from Kenya will return to Uganda today barely a week after they attended a fundraiser in what has been viewed as a bid to drum up support for NRM presidential candidate Yoweri Museveni.
Elgeyo Marakwet County senator Kipchumba Murkomen, Uasin Gishu governor Jackson Mandago, Endebess county MP Robert Pukose and deputy president William Ruto’s personal assistant Farouk Kibet will be on the team making today’s trip.
Already, Trans-Zoia senator Henry Ole-Ndiema, Narok governor Samuel Tunai and Mr Ruto are the other politicians to have made their way to Sebei sub-region in less than three months. When this newspaper contacted Mr Pukose who is heading the delegation to Uganda, he said he was tied up in a meeting and promised he would contact this reporter. He had not got back to us yet by press time.
Sources close to the Jubilee MPs said the group was here to drum up support for Mr Museveni, just a week from the general election on February 18.
“Yes, they are coming back. We got reports that more than 3,000 residents in Tulel and Chesawer in Bukwo District raised dust over claims of being sidelined when the group visited the region last week,” one of the people organising for their return told this newspaper yesterday.
Prof Sheme Chemangey Masaba, the first minister for animal husbandry and fisheries in President Museveni’s government and also a 2006 FDC contender for Tingey County MP seat, however, said the politicians are meddling in Ugandan affairs.
“That means the Uganda government has failed in its role. How much does it take to build a school? This is just a political move and has nothing to do with helping our people,” Prof Masaba said.
There have been reports of a drift away from the NRM in Sebei sub-region to the Opposition and according to Ms Rose Nancy Chelangat, an NRM aide and mobiliser, the ruling party has responded by heavily deploying agents in the sub-region. “When Dr Kizza Besigye visited Sebei, we were shocked by the reception he received. In a bid to woo back our supporters, we have been involved in a lot of mobilisation and campaign work,” Ms Chelangat said.
At the weekend fundraiser event in Sebei, politicians Pukose and Tunai handed over 100 bags of cement, 170 iron sheets and Shs48 million for the completion of schools in Tumbaboi (Kapchorwa), Ngenge (Kween) and Kapkoros (Bukwo).
Reports also emerged that Kuka’s Inn in Kapchorwa was full of activity, as ruling party members remained expectant of the visitors. When the Kenyan politicians arrive, they will be hosted to a breakfast at State Lodge Kapchorwa, spend a night after several rallies and on Saturday attend a get together with the Sabiny community big shots.
