A section of Rift Valley leaders together with their central counterparts have expressed their frustrations over what they termed region’s isolations by President Uhuru Kenyatta in terms of developments.
The leaders mostly drawn from Deputy President William Ruto’s Tanga Tanga team accused the March 2018 handshake between Uhuru and opposition leader Raila Odinga as the main reason their areas have been isolated.
Led by Keiyo South MP Daniel Rono the MPs wondered why the government has sidelined the Rift Valley region in terms of development but has been launching mega projects in other parts of the country.
“It is like all arms of government are fighting these regions, At this rate, we might take drastic steps and declare our stand,” Mr Rono said.
The same was echoed by Moiben Member of Parliament Silas Tiren who had earlier on parted ways with Jubilee party saying the Jubilee government had done so little to improve the Rift Valley region in terms of developments.
Tiren wondered why Jubilee had been launching projects in other regions and while leaving Rift valley a region that fully stood by Jubilee party in the 2017 general elections.
Famous Uasin Gishu businessman Buzeki recently dumped Jubilee party citing frustrations and lack of development records by the party in the region. Buzeki, said the region had nothing to be proud of despite being in the government.
He expressed his concerns over the growing rift between the two warring groups, Kieleweke and Tanga tanga saying that the two were being driven by selfish gains and had nothing new to present to the electorates.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gopoF30inDU
The last time President Kenyatta toured the region was in 2018 during the Kenya Defence Forces recruits pass-out in Eldoret.
According to some political analysts from the Rift Valley, the President has been avoiding to visit the Rift Valley because of fears that he might be taken into task by the electorates over unfulfilled development projects.
Others who have decried the same include Elgeyo-Makarakwet Governor Alex Tolgos who has so far questioned why Dr Matiang’i had not toured the region to access the situation despite a public outcry.
South Rift leaders, including Bomet Deputy Governor Hillary Barchok and MPs Ronald Tonui, Kimani Ngunjiri, Japheth Mutai, and Gideon Koskei, said the government should fulfill its pre-election pledges to residents
Leaders from Central Kenya led by Kieni Constituency MP Kanini Kega said also faulted the handshake saying that no major projects had been launched and completed in the region since the March 2018 handshake.
This comes at a time when the handshake is facing serious challenges with Kieleweke and Tanga tanga team taking on each other over the same. Gatundu South Moses Kuria came under heavy criticism from the president on the eve of the new year after he alleged that Mt Kenya region had received zero developments despite being in the government.