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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.
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