Eco Envision

A section of Rift Valley province Kalenjin youths allied to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), have registered their discontent with a majority of the current crop of the area Members of Parliament over the Mau forest which has exposed Kenya to international focus, and singled out the Minister for Agriculture William Samoei Ruto for condemnation.

Addressing the press, the Kalenjin youths emphasized that they were in ODM by choice but not because of the fact that Ruto was the party´s deputy leader.

Led by Kiprono Rotich, they stated that Prime Minister Raila Odinga as the party leader, deserves absolute respect and if Ruto feels he cannot work with him, the best he can do is to quit the party.

Ruto is on record as saying that the government´s move over the Mau forest issue pertaining to eviction of its inhabitants was aimed at intimidating the Rift Valley Mp´s.

Ruto indicated that he was considering seeking shelter elsewhere owing to this move.

But in a strong rejoinder yesterday, the youths accused Ruto of allegedly working in tandem with some of his former political colleagues in Kanu-the former ruling party, to wreck ODM from within.

ODM is the party under which Raila Odinga vied for the presidency during the controversial and disputed elections in which President Kibaki- riding on the Party of Nartional Unity, was declared winner.

Voicing their concern over the necessity of conserving the Mau forest, the ODM Kalenjin youths emphasized that there should be no compromise over the issue.

"That the Mau conservation is not negotiable since it affects, and has indeed affected the livelihoods of thousands of people and wildlife, is a matter of national importance and as such, it should not be treated as minor by people out to hold the ODM party at ransom", Rotich who spoke on behalf of the youths stressed.

Rotich said: "those shouting the loudest against the Mau conservation, own huge chunks of land which they acquired illegally there and should therefore not antagonize the government´s efforts to compensate the poor."

He added that the Mau saga should be a revolution against those with ill-gotten wealth that accrued from the Kanu regime, warning that they risk losing everything should they continue to shield the rich in the name of leadership.

The beneficiaries of the Mau complex, he pointed out, are former power brokers and influential individuals during the past Moi regime and should not hide behind the poor to get compensation for a piece of land they acquired for free, and indeed illegally.

Hon Raila Odinga, the youths explained, means good for the Kalenjin community and consequently, Ruto and his ilk should not portray otherwise for their own self-aggrandizement.

"We are aware that Ruto is working with ODM detractors in the hope of convincing our youths yet again,to join tribal outfits dubbed "K.K" for their own selfish needs", charged Rotich.
"Ruto and his brigade of Mau beneficiaries should either shut up or ship out of ODM to join a party of their choice since in ODM, democracy was thriving under the able and focused leadership of Hon Raila Odinga, our prime minister", the youths indicated.

However, they supported the compensation of poor farmers who bought land innocently from Rift Valley power barons -a fact which the Prime minister acknowledged.

The youths described Ruto as a trouble maker in ODM and a "known distorter of facts" due to his propensity of being a selfish individual.

Other youths who accompanied Rotich during the press briefing were: Daniel Sang, Sammy Kipkemboi, Sosten Kipkoech and Dinah Chepkemboi, among others.

The youths further welcomed the move by the Prime minister Raila Odinga of tabling a list in Parliament that revealed that the beneficiaries of the Mau forest were rich and politically-connected individuals.

They chided the Rift Valley Mps for rushing to seek an audience with President Mwai Kibaki after realizing that they had been defeated and outshone by the Prime Minister over the Mau saga.

The youths accused the Rift Valley lawmakers of seeking favours from President Kibaki over the issue, since they had been long used to the politics of sycophancy during the corrupt rule of retired President Daniel arap Moi.

These legislators should not think they can use 18th century tactics to win a 21st century battle, said the youths.

They advised the Mps to realize that the conservation of Mau was not within the domain of President Kibaki "but it was the cry of the nation".

They should not rush to the President like small children who need food. The Mau issue is not something to joke with! the youths thundered.

At the same time, the youths asked President Kibaki not to use the Mau saga in playing succession politics since tribal alliances belong to history.

During their meeting with President Kibaki, the Head of State assured the Rift Valley lawmakers that the Kenya government would look into the compensation of those who had settled in Mau after eviction.

The Rift Valley legislators who belong to Moi´s Kalenjin tribe, overwhelmingly voted for Raila Odinga during the last elections in the face of the mood for change then prevailing in Kenya.

But they have disagreed with the Prime Minister over the Mau forest issue simply because of the fact that they expropriated huge tracts of land from the forest, their relatives and friends in a corrupt move allegedly made possible for them by the past Moi administration.