|
Ruto appeals for end to killings
as he visits patients
Story by SAMMY CHEBOI
Publication Date: 1/28/2008
The violence that hit parts of the country following the
announcement of the controversial presidential results was not
premeditated, an Orange Democratic Movement leader said Sunday.
Pentagon member William Ruto also warned those who participated in
the alleged rigging of the General Election that their days were
numbered.
Speaking during a church service in Eldoret, the Eldoret North MP
called for peace among residents of Rift Valley Province, saying
that it was pointless to kill each other.
“Don’t fight. Those who have caused us this pain are not here. You
have committed no wrong among yourselves” declared Ruto.
First visit
It was the first time the legislator visited the district since
the violence erupted. He donated 100 bags of maize, milk and other
foods to be distributed to the families camping in various areas
in Uasin Gishu.
Mr Ruto blamed the violence on “those who stole the people’s
democratic right” and dismissed claims that the fighting was
ethnic.
“This is not a tribal contest. It is about a stolen election. We
voted for change and prosperity, not violence,” said Mr Ruto.
He called on the faithful to pray for peace in the country to
propel economic growth.
“Our country is hurting. It is teetering on the brink of collapse.
Let’s pray that political leaders may have the courage to make the
hard decisions, humility to listen to the other side and wisdom to
put these together to help our country back to its former position,”
pleaded Ruto.
He also blamed the current crisis on a skewed constitutional
order.
“In the current Constitution, we have a winner takes all president.
Our governance system taxes the poor to enrich the wealthy. What
Kenya needs is a win-win constitutional order,” observed Ruto.
Heavy price
During a tour of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, the MP
consoled victims of the violence.
The politician regretted that the ordinary citizens were paying a
heavy price for wrongs they did not commit.
“It is unfortunate that our vote has turned tragic. All of us must
work hard to return our country to where it was. This must not
recur in our province,” he said.
He saw patients who were nursing machete cuts, and arrow and
gunshot wounds.
“The policeman turned his gun on me when I asked why he had shot
dead my two friends,” said Fred Outa, in his early 20s, adding
that he knew the officer who shot him.
Another victim, Mr Linus Kitur, driver of marathon runner Lucas
Sang, gave a heart-rending account of the circumstances under
which his employer was killed.
“They fired a shot which hit Sang. When he fell down as he tried
to run, they cut him several times using a panga (machete) before
turning on me. I only learnt recently that Sang had died,” said
Kitur, who was admitted to hospital unconscious.
Mr Johnstone Njau, who is nursing wounds inflicted by an
assailant’s arrow, pleaded with the Pentagon member to help end
the political impasse in the country.
“Ruto, please end this. This is an arrow (pointing at the injury).
I lost my 30 goats. Where will I start? Talk amongst yourselves so
that we can live in peace,” pleaded Mr Njau.
Mr Ruto asked police officers to discharge their mandate with
professionalism.
“Many of the patients are nursing gunshot wounds. It is only fair
to ask the security agents to exercise professionalism when using
firearms,” he said, adding that one man admitted was shot by the
police Sunday.
He said that he wished Kofi Annan well in his effort to resolving
the current crisis, saying that they will do their best to resolve
the impasse and that “justice will be our shield and defender.”
|
