Kanu and Jubilee are accusing allies of DP William Ruto of attempting to coerce government officers in the region to side with UDA and Ruto instead of working independently
Kanu branch officials led by Paul Kibet of Elgeyo Marakwet and Jubilee leaders headed by MCA for Langas Francis Muya separately said the government officers, especially county commissioners, must remain neutral.
“Someone who runs a hotel wants the county commissioner to be his stooge and work like his puppet," Muya said. "But we are telling him we will not allow him to use his political links in UDA to target and frustrate government officials,"he said.
On Friday, Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago, Woman Representative Gladys Boss Shollei and Soy MP Caleb Kositany accused top government officers of participating in politics to undermine the DP. They spoke at a funeral in Soy constituency.
Kositany claimed Uasin Gishu county commissioner Stephen Kihara was inciting communities in the region.
“We will write even to the ICC to explain what we know about county commissioner Kihara,” he said.
The claim was made just days after Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua and his Kikuyu counterpart Kimani Ichungwa accused Kihara of seeking to divide and incite the Kikuyu community in the region.
Kihara has dismissed the claims and pledged public servants will not serve or favour any politician or political party.
Some political leaders had asked Kihara to stop a meeting where a spokesman for the Kikuyu community allied to President Uhuru Kenyatta was installed in the town.
Kihara declined to stop the ceremony and said residents were free to go on with their activities as long as they do not violate the law or breach the peace.
The installation angered DP Ruto allies led by UDA patron in the area James Wainaina.
Wainaina last month attended the installation of another spokesman by elders allied to UDA.
“We only recognise Mzee Joseph Gatonye as the official spokesman of the Kikuyu community in this region and he will not operate as if he is an employee of a certain hotel," Muya said.
Kibet and the Kanu branch officials said all public servants, and in particular the county commissioner, had no mandate to serve UDA or be a crony to those targeting him.
“We will defend the county commissioner and all government workers because we know they are serving the public fairly and as per the law," Kibet said.
(Edited by V. Graham)
