June 22, 2013 - 00:00 -- BY STAR TEAM

The Office of Deputy President William Ruto is grappling with growing discontent from the South Rift region as well as wrangles among its staff.

An official in the office dismissed the matters as "minor teething problems related to settling in to a new office."

Members of the South Rift Valley, a huge support base for Ruto, feel that they lack accessibility of the Deputy President and positions in government.

"Kericho senator Charles Keter seems to be the only member of the Kipsigis community able to reach the Deputy President. Even elected MPs have been chased from the office, being told that they are leaving their work to go chasing after Ruto for favours," claimed a politician.

He claimed that there is no senior employee from South Rift in the office making it harder for them to get appointments.

A political activist alleged that Ruto's chief of staff Maryanne Keitany, from Keiyo, and his two personal assistants Reuben Maiyo and Farouk Kibet, both from Ruto's Nandi sub-tribe, have started blocking visitors to the office.

A Kisumu activist, recognised as a Ruto loyalist, reportedly got into fisticuffs with Kibet last Thursday. George Ayugi, popularly known as Mbuta, reportedly confronted Kibet in the corridor after he was prevented from seeing the Deputy President. The two were separated by security officers and Ayugi thrown out.

A witness blamed the activist for the acrimony.

"The two did not fight. Ayugi was told he could not see the boss and he started shouting. We came out of our offices because we heard shouting. Mbuta held Kibet by the collar but Kibet did not fight back," he said.

Both Kibet and Ayugi have denied that the incident took place."I have not fought anybody," said Ayugi.Kibet insisted that all was well in the DP's office."Who told you that? There is no trouble here," said Kibet.An official in the Office of the Deputy President denied that it was difficult to access Ruto.

"I see him with so many people everyday. But there are people who want to be in this office from morning to evening. Some even want to park their cars in the parking within the compound. They should seek appointments because he gives many appointments every day," he said.

He dismissed suggestion that Ruto was not doing enough for South Rift or URP."The Deputy President is the Deputy President for the whole country, not for URP or South Rift. He said in Kuria recently that he will serve all Kenyans and will not discriminate. The time for party politics is now over," he said.

The Deputy President has now spoken to all his aides to define their responsibilities.Kibet was issued with a formal appointment letter to make him Personal Assistant to the Deputy President.

"The boss was very angry that there were people fighting each other over him. He called each one of them and told them what he expects of them and their new roles," said an insider.

The infighting has reportedly sucked in Keitany and Maiyo.

"Both of them think they are equal so the boss has once again been forced to intervene and clarify their roles and responsibilities. Maiyo had hoped that he would be given the job of Chief of Staff, especially because he has been working for the boss for many years, but was surprised when Keitany was brought in," said another source in the DP's office.

Keitany was the IT manager at Kenya Railways before joining the Ruto campaign secretariat before the March 4 election. She  has been attending most government meetings chaired by Ruto and recently accompanied Ruto to Japan for an official trip.

As the Chief of Staff, Keitany is responsible for staff recruitment and deployment at the Deputy President’s office. Maiyo is responsible for Ruto’s diary as well as other duties.

There has also been simmering tension between Ruto's new staff and those who were formerly working for Prime Minister Raila Odinga. They have been competing on who should access the Deputy President.

Yesterday a senior staff member in Ruto's office told the Star that Ruto has warned any staff engaging in petty politics that they will be sacked.

“Mheshimiwa has raised a yellow card warning us of dire consequences for anyone one found engaging in meaningless competitions and those who see everything in the prism of political parties,”he said.

On Wednesday, the Leader of Government Business Adan Duale defended Ruto against claims that he was targeting Raila's people for removal.

South Rift supporters say that while President Uhuru Kenyatta has been to Central Province twice to thank the electorate, Ruto has only been to two funerals in South Rift.

A former MP from Kericho said the county had also not received any appointments.

"Because the Attorney General comes from the President's community, we expected that, in the interest of sharing power, the Solicitor General would come from Kalenjin, and specifically Kericho because our county has not got anything. Instead, as the President is rewarding his supporters, the Deputy President is busy with trips to West Africa and Japan. Now the Solicitor General is also likely to go to Central, that already has the AG and the Deputy Solicitor General," he complained.

This week President Kenyatta nominated his long-time aide Njee Muturi for Solicitor General. He is expected to be vetted by Parliament by Wednesday next week.

"We in URP are also not happy over the fact that every Kalenjin Cabinet Secretary is given a Kikuyu Principal Secretary, who is a professional in the field to mark him. It is as if they want to have figureheads for Cabinet Secretary while the ministry is run by the Principal secretaries," said the former MP. Keter has absolved himself from blame.

Keter said he pushed unsuccessfully for the Solicitor General position for South Rift which showed he did not have privileged access to Ruto

RUTO FACES REBELLION IN OFFICE

Saturday, June 22, 2013 - 00:00 -- BY STAR TEAM

The Office of Deputy President William Ruto is grappling with growing discontent from the South Rift region as well as wrangles among its staff.
An official in the office dismissed the matters as "minor teething problems related to settling in to a new office."
Members of the South Rift Valley, a huge support base for Ruto, feel that they lack accessibility of the Deputy President and positions in government.
"Kericho senator Charles Keter seems to be the only member of the Kipsigis community able to reach the Deputy President. Even elected MPs have been chased from the office, being told that they are leaving their work to go chasing after Ruto for favours," claimed a politician.
He claimed that there is no senior employee from South Rift in the office making it harder for them to get appointments.
A political activist alleged that Ruto's chief of staff Maryanne Keitany, from Keiyo, and his two personal assistants Reuben Maiyo and Farouk Kibet, both from Ruto's Nandi sub-tribe, have started blocking visitors to the office.
A Kisumu activist, recognised as a Ruto loyalist, reportedly got into fisticuffs with Kibet last Thursday. George Ayugi, popularly known as Mbuta, reportedly confronted Kibet in the corridor after he was prevented from seeing the Deputy President. The two were separated by security officers and Ayugi thrown out.
A witness blamed the activist for the acrimony.
"The two did not fight. Ayugi was told he could not see the boss and he started shouting. We came out of our offices because we heard shouting. Mbuta held Kibet by the collar but Kibet did not fight back," he said.
Both Kibet and Ayugi have denied that the incident took place."I have not fought anybody," said Ayugi.Kibet insisted that all was well in the DP's office."Who told you that? There is no trouble here," said Kibet.An official in the Office of the Deputy President denied that it was difficult to access Ruto.
"I see him with so many people everyday. But there are people who want to be in this office from morning to evening. Some even want to park their cars in the parking within the compound. They should seek appointments because he gives many appointments every day," he said.
He dismissed suggestion that Ruto was not doing enough for South Rift or URP."The Deputy President is the Deputy President for the whole country, not for URP or South Rift. He said in Kuria recently that he will serve all Kenyans and will not discriminate. The time for party politics is now over," he said.
The Deputy President has now spoken to all his aides to define their responsibilities.Kibet was issued with a formal appointment letter to make him Personal Assistant to the Deputy President.
"The boss was very angry that there were people fighting each other over him. He called each one of them and told them what he expects of them and their new roles," said an insider.
The infighting has reportedly sucked in Keitany and Maiyo.
"Both of them think they are equal so the boss has once again been forced to intervene and clarify their roles and responsibilities. Maiyo had hoped that he would be given the job of Chief of Staff, especially because he has been working for the boss for many years, but was surprised when Keitany was brought in," said another source in the DP's office.

Keitany was the IT manager at Kenya Railways before joining the Ruto campaign secretariat before the March 4 election. She  has been attending most government meetings chaired by Ruto and recently accompanied Ruto to Japan for an official trip.

As the Chief of Staff, Keitany is responsible for staff recruitment and deployment at the Deputy President’s office. Maiyo is responsible for Ruto’s diary as well as other duties.

There has also been simmering tension between Ruto's new staff and those who were formerly working for Prime Minister Raila Odinga. They have been competing on who should access the Deputy President.
Yesterday a senior staff member in Ruto's office told the Star that Ruto has warned any staff engaging in petty politics that they will be sacked.
“Mheshimiwa has raised a yellow card warning us of dire consequences for anyone one found engaging in meaningless competitions and those who see everything in the prism of political parties,”he said.
On Wednesday, the Leader of Government Business Adan Duale defended Ruto against claims that he was targeting Raila's people for removal.
South Rift supporters say that while President Uhuru Kenyatta has been to Central Province twice to thank the electorate, Ruto has only been to two funerals in South Rift.
A former MP from Kericho said the county had also not received any appointments.
"Because the Attorney General comes from the President's community, we expected that, in the interest of sharing power, the Solicitor General would come from Kalenjin, and specifically Kericho because our county has not got anything. Instead, as the President is rewarding his supporters, the Deputy President is busy with trips to West Africa and Japan. Now the Solicitor General is also likely to go to Central, that already has the AG and the Deputy Solicitor General," he complained.
This week President Kenyatta nominated his long-time aide Njee Muturi for Solicitor General. He is expected to be vetted by Parliament by Wednesday next week.
"We in URP are also not happy over the fact that every Kalenjin Cabinet Secretary is given a Kikuyu Principal Secretary, who is a professional in the field to mark him. It is as if they want to have figureheads for Cabinet Secretary while the ministry is run by the Principal secretaries," said the former MP.
 Keter has absolved himself from blame.
Keter said he pushed unsuccessfully for the Solicitor General position for South Rift which showed he did not have privileged access to Ruto

- See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-125255/ruto-faces-rebellion-office#sthash.Ho4oWQvp.dpuf