– Baringo Senator Gideon Moi has said that the alleged circumcision insults from Deputy President William Ruto were signs of his true character
– A local newspaper had reported that Ruto called Gideon Moi an uncircumcised boy during a raly in Kericho county. Ruto denied that claims saying that the paper misreported what he said
– Kanu supporters claim that Ruto is ungrateful to their chairman’s father who nurtured him to be the politician that he is
A controversial newspaper report continues to widen political differences between leaders in the Rift Valley.
Baringo Senator Gideon Moi said Deputy President William Ruto’s alleged derogatory terms towards his were a sign of what the DP truly is.
“He has taken the region for granted for too long. You can fool people for so long. For now, the die is cast, no matter the insults,” said Moi as published by The Star on Tuesday, February 23.
A day earlier, The Star had reported that Ruto got personal with Gideon Moi and called him uncircumcised during a rally in Belgut constituency, Kericho county.
“Kalenjins stood by him (Daniel Moi) shoulder-to-shoulder, until he became president, so this uncircumcised son of arap Moi should not bring us his stupidity by telling us that we cannot support other Kalenjin leaders from other families,” read that quote the paper attributed to Ruto.Ruto had spoken in vernacular and some members of the Kalenjin community immediately disputed paper’s translation saying the words were taken out of context.
“The word ‘ng’etet’ means a young boy or uncircumcised boy or ‘son of’ depending on the words one uses after. Ruto said ‘ng’etet ab arap Moi’ meaning the son of arap Moi,” said one member of the community.The DP also denied the claims and accused the paper of misreporting his statement just to make money.
“My statements have never been about trivialities like circumcision but as always, The Star is at it. I understand sales matter,” William Ruto posted on his Twitter account.Ruto’s supremacy battle with Gideon Moi have intensified due to the March 7, senatorial by-election in Kericho.
Jubilee is under pressure to retain the seat that fell vacant following appointment of Charles Keter as cabinet secretary for energy. The ruling coalition’s candidate Aaron Cheruiyot is facing stiff competition from Kanu’s Paul Sang – a party that Gideon Moi chairs.
Sang is steadily getting support from local leaders, including some from Ruto’s party, as he is seen as a more seasoned politician. The former minister in retired president Daniel Moi’s regime came second in the 2013 senatorial race while Cheruiyot is making his debut in the county politics.
Mount Elgon Kanu chairman Joe Kimkum said Ruto was ungrateful as he would not be where he is without the senior Moi.
Kimkum also termed Ruto’s claims that Gideon Moi was leading Kalenjins to the opposition as hypocritical. He led the Kalenjin to the opposition in 2007, Kimkum said.
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