Deputy President William Ruto has distanced himself from the ongoing wrangles in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) fuelled by the disgruntlement raised by a section of Western Kenya MPs.

Speaking in Webuye on Sunday, the Deputy President said that Ababu Namwamba and other Western MPs have the ability to decide whether or not they would stay in ODM, saying it is not upon him to influence their decision.“Wetangula is working with Raila and Kalonzo while Uhuru and I work with Water CS Eugene Wamalwa and the others, does that mean he (Wetangula) has been bought?” the DP asked.
The DP said claims that he is buying CORD legislators and recruiting them into Jubilee is misplaced saying such statements are malicious.
Namwamba future at ODM has been in question with reports on Friday claiming he was contemplating resigning from his position as Secretary General.
In a presser this week, a number of Western MPs, led by Paul Otuoma and Namwamba claimed that they felt mistreated in ODM saying they have been neglected in the running of the party affairs.
ODM Executive Director Oduor Ong’wen has however refuted the reports saying Namwamba still holds his position as SG.Ruto also called on CORD to speed up the selection of a team to represent them in the joint parliamentary select committee in order to start the dialogue process and iron out Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) issue.
On 2017 politics, Ruto called on Western leaders, including CORD co-principal Moses Wetangula, to join Jubilee saying there will be on post-election pacts.
He insisted that the government would not take part in unconstitutional process in seeking to resolve the IEBC standoff challenging CORD leaders Raila Odinga, Moses Wetangula and Kalonzo Musyoka to defend the Constitution since they championed for its passing in 2010.
“CORD leaders were on the forefront in pushing for the passing of the Constitution and yet they want to defy the same Constitution. We want things to be done in accordance with the law,” he said.
Jubilee has already named Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi, Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, MPs Beatrice Elachi (nominated), Naomi Shaaban (Taveta), Moses Kuria (Gatundi South) and Jimmy Angweyi (Kitutu Chache North) to spearhead the process.
CORD has named Senators Johnson Muthama (Machakos), Mutula Kilonzo (Makueni) and James Orengo (Siaya), MPs Eseli Simiyu (Tongaren), Junet Mohamed (Suna East) and Hellen Sambili (Mogotio) and Mombasa Women Representative Mishi Mboko as its representatives.
Sambili has however turned down the nomination saying neither her nor her constituents were consulted in the naming process.
The legislator noted that KANU is part of Jubilee and cannot be included in the CORD team saying any changes on the same should be communicated to her through the party officials.