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| President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto |
North Rift TNA leaders have apportioned blame on President
Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto for allegedly leaving them out in
the cold after having vigorously campaigned for their ascendancy to power in
the March 2013 general elections.
Addressing the media, the leaders charged that the TNA hierarchy had regarded them apathetically without any justifiable cause. The ruling coalition, they claimed, does not recognize them at all.
Led by Kipchoge Murkelda, the concerned leaders sounded an impassioned plea to Uhuru and Ruto to give them attention.
They explained that they had not relented in their task of popularizing the Jubilee government at all levels in the expansive region. The leaders claimed that they were like "hungry sons" jettisoned in the wilderness.
Other leaders who accompanied Murkelda during the press briefing were: David Korir, Thomas Rob, Hellen Kogo, Julius Mutai, Sabina Bett, Emmanuel Tum, Margaret Yego, David Kirarei, Ernest Kosgey and Pauline Chepkwony.
Murkelda who spoke on behalf of the leaders, asserted that they had been ignored on issues pertaining to government and party affairs.
The chairman accused TNA chairman Sakaja Johnson and the Secretary General Onyango Oloo of allegedly doing little to strengthen the party.
"No activities and programmes have been put in place by the TNA duo ever since the party romped to power and the party is dormant which is a matter of concern to many", charged Murkelda who is the North Rift TNA coordinator.
He also doubles up as the party's vice-chairman in Nandi county.
"It is up to Uhuru and Ruto to indicate whether we should stick to TNA or not since we are contemplating to seek shelter elsewhere as we have been abandoned. They should clear the air over the issue. If TNA is not ready to accommodate us, then we are ready to pack up and go. We have been committed in our roles and have fought gallantly for the party", he stated.
Murkelda noted that there was also an outcry from Western and Nyanza leaders whom he said had echoed their sentiments.
At the same time, he urged Presidential Advisor Joshua Kuttuny to advise the Head of State on the plight of the North Rift party leaders.
The chairman supported the move to hold TNA elections from the grassroots to the national level in the face of shocking allegations of misappropriation of some sh 20 million at the party headquarters.
He scoffed at a challenge thrown to the leaders by the Nandi County URP chairman Sammy Choge that they decamp to URP.
Choge issued the challenge during a graduation ceremony of about 200 circumcised boys which was presided over by the Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei at Kilibwoni division, Kapkagaon grounds of the Nandi County.
Murkleda said Choge had no mandate to tell the leaders where they were supposed to go as the issue was basically a TNA affair.
"But we are frustrated since we played a pivotal contribution in enabling TNA to come to power and mark you, 2017 is not far off", the chairman added.
During the graduation ceremony, Murkelda was pressurized to defect to URP but he maintained that it was impossible.
He blasted the Emgwen CDF manager David Kemboi for allegedly sabotaging the visit to the County last week by the Cabinet Secretary.
Murkelda noted that Koskei was accompanied by a battalion of Managing Directors from various parastatals whose only interest was development but not politics.
He said Kemboi was a sycophant of some leaders in the county and had no business in frustrating Koskei's visit to the area as it was aimed at enlightening the local people on attaching importance to agriculture to make the country self-sufficient in food production.
The official emphasized that Koskei was a son of the Nandi County and should be allowed to participate in development programmes.
"We thank Koskei for visiting several areas in the Nandi County including Kapkagaon. Governor Cleophas Lagat should not feel threatened as Koskei has no political ambitions. He is only interested in initiating development in the expansive County", Murkelda concluded as he urged Koskei to make regular visits to the Nandi County to assist the local people in acquiring economic empowerment
Addressing the media, the leaders charged that the TNA hierarchy had regarded them apathetically without any justifiable cause. The ruling coalition, they claimed, does not recognize them at all.
Led by Kipchoge Murkelda, the concerned leaders sounded an impassioned plea to Uhuru and Ruto to give them attention.
They explained that they had not relented in their task of popularizing the Jubilee government at all levels in the expansive region. The leaders claimed that they were like "hungry sons" jettisoned in the wilderness.
Other leaders who accompanied Murkelda during the press briefing were: David Korir, Thomas Rob, Hellen Kogo, Julius Mutai, Sabina Bett, Emmanuel Tum, Margaret Yego, David Kirarei, Ernest Kosgey and Pauline Chepkwony.
Murkelda who spoke on behalf of the leaders, asserted that they had been ignored on issues pertaining to government and party affairs.
The chairman accused TNA chairman Sakaja Johnson and the Secretary General Onyango Oloo of allegedly doing little to strengthen the party.
"No activities and programmes have been put in place by the TNA duo ever since the party romped to power and the party is dormant which is a matter of concern to many", charged Murkelda who is the North Rift TNA coordinator.
He also doubles up as the party's vice-chairman in Nandi county.
"It is up to Uhuru and Ruto to indicate whether we should stick to TNA or not since we are contemplating to seek shelter elsewhere as we have been abandoned. They should clear the air over the issue. If TNA is not ready to accommodate us, then we are ready to pack up and go. We have been committed in our roles and have fought gallantly for the party", he stated.
Murkelda noted that there was also an outcry from Western and Nyanza leaders whom he said had echoed their sentiments.
At the same time, he urged Presidential Advisor Joshua Kuttuny to advise the Head of State on the plight of the North Rift party leaders.
The chairman supported the move to hold TNA elections from the grassroots to the national level in the face of shocking allegations of misappropriation of some sh 20 million at the party headquarters.
He scoffed at a challenge thrown to the leaders by the Nandi County URP chairman Sammy Choge that they decamp to URP.
Choge issued the challenge during a graduation ceremony of about 200 circumcised boys which was presided over by the Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei at Kilibwoni division, Kapkagaon grounds of the Nandi County.
Murkleda said Choge had no mandate to tell the leaders where they were supposed to go as the issue was basically a TNA affair.
"But we are frustrated since we played a pivotal contribution in enabling TNA to come to power and mark you, 2017 is not far off", the chairman added.
During the graduation ceremony, Murkelda was pressurized to defect to URP but he maintained that it was impossible.
He blasted the Emgwen CDF manager David Kemboi for allegedly sabotaging the visit to the County last week by the Cabinet Secretary.
Murkelda noted that Koskei was accompanied by a battalion of Managing Directors from various parastatals whose only interest was development but not politics.
He said Kemboi was a sycophant of some leaders in the county and had no business in frustrating Koskei's visit to the area as it was aimed at enlightening the local people on attaching importance to agriculture to make the country self-sufficient in food production.
The official emphasized that Koskei was a son of the Nandi County and should be allowed to participate in development programmes.
"We thank Koskei for visiting several areas in the Nandi County including Kapkagaon. Governor Cleophas Lagat should not feel threatened as Koskei has no political ambitions. He is only interested in initiating development in the expansive County", Murkelda concluded as he urged Koskei to make regular visits to the Nandi County to assist the local people in acquiring economic empowerment
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