Stop the war now, Ruto tells Rift Valley residents

Published on January 28, 2008, 12:00 am

By Isaiah Lucheli

Eldoret North MP, Mr William Ruto, has appealed to Rift Valley residents not to allow the province to become a battleground every election year.

In his first visit to the town since the eruption of post-election violence, the MP dispelled claims that the violence experienced was planned, saying it was a spontaneous reaction caused by a flawed election.

"I am appealing to our people to stop fighting each other. We know those who organised to manipulate the elections and have put us in this mess," said Ruto.

On the ongoing mediation talks, Ruto said ODM members would be humbled to look at the prevailing situation and make hard decisions for the sake of the country.

"Politics should not be turned into an ethnic contest. Politics is about policies, development and manifestoes. We should create harmony and coexist," said Ruto.

Ruto, who is also a member of the ODM Pentagon, called on the police to discharge their duties professionally and avoid being politicised.

"Many of the people who have been killed and admitted to hospitals sustained bullet wounds. The security forces should discharge their mandate professionally," said Ruto.

The MP appealed to religious leaders to pray for the country to enable leaders involved in mediation to reach an amicable agreement. "I ask you to pray so that political leaders will have the courage to make hard decisions, humility to listen and wisdom to put all that together," he said.

He said the country was on the brink of collapse and said it was only God’s intervention that could save it.

Ruto visited wounded people at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.

He said the Constitution had contributed to the post-election violence and called for its amendment, especially on presidential powers.

Ruto said the Constitution provides for a-winner-takes-it-all and a tax system that impoverishes the poor.

"Fifteen years ago, Kenyans identified the Constitution as the problem facing the country. It gives excess powers to the President and alienates the poor," he said.

Ruto was speaking at the Africa Inland Church in Eldoret town where he attended a service. He later donated 100 bags of maize, cooking fat, milk and blankets to displaced people.

http://www.eastandard.net/news/?id=1143981041&cid=4&PHPSESSID=5578f2af46e3871548d7dc9774adbe6f

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