Storm over Deputy President William Ruto’s forays into Raila Odinga’s turf

Deputy President William Ruto’s sustained visits to CORD stronghold of Western has rattled the Opposition.

Initially, Ruto was discreet about the tours, explaining his visits as inspection of development projects. But confronted last week by Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale, Ruto said wooing voters from the populous Luhya community was not an offence. The DP has been taking advantage of prayers and fundraisers in the CORD dominated region to sell the Jubilee agenda.

During a function last weekend (see photo below), Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya told local leaders: “All leaders in this county should work together with the government to develop this county. Let us wait for 2017 to engage in politics”.

Khalwale questioned the visits but declared his support for the Jubilee government to initiate projects in the county. “As a community, we will not make a mistake again. In 2017, we will bundle Jubilee out of power,” said Khalwale.

However, Khalwale said he knows Ruto is after something in the county. “The manner you have come means you are looking for something. You should, however, know that while you are looking for votes through fund raising and prayer meetings, we are employing other tricks to seek votes from your region,” said Khalwale.

Ruto has developed a political network in the region using MPs allied to the Musalia Mudavadi-led Amani coalition. He seems to be banking on the support of MPs Ayub Savula (Lugari), Bonface Otsyula (Bumula), Benard Shinali (Ikolomani) and John Waluke of Sirisia. On the contrary, Waluke is the only ODM MP in Bungoma County but has since switched camps, arguing it is for development’s sake. Ruto has been to the turf of Khalwale two times on Shinali‘s invitation.

In two elections, the Luhya community failed to rally behind their own candidates (Wamalwa Kijana in 1997 and Musalia Mudavadi in 2013). These are the mistakes Khalwale says the community will not repeat.

So far, Mudavadi and Senator Moses Wetang‘ula have shown interest in the presidency in the next General Election. But Oparanya has dismissed chances of the community clinching the presidency. “In 2017, the election will be between Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga. As a community, we should focus on the 2022 elections,” said Oparanya.

Ruto recently told Khalwale: “Kakamega... is in Kenya, I do not need a visa to visit this region. As a government, we have plans to develop all parts of the country”.

Ruto says growth plans the Jubilee government has for the region include tarmacking of more than 200km of road in Kakamega County and construction of a dairy plant.

The Deputy President has also been visiting Bungoma County, Wetang‘ula‘s home ground. MPs from the region have asked the community to work with the government on one hand and strategise on how they will form the next government on the other.

Webuye West MP Dan Wanyama says the community should not be in the opposition year in year out. “Who bewitched this community? Why should we always be in the opposition? It is time to pray to form the next government,” said Wanyama.

Nambale MP Sakwa Bunyasi assured the community that leaders from Western will work together. He said they will assess the capacity of presidential candidates from the region before deciding who to support in the next election. Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe said: “We will support any candidate who will appeal to us and who will address the needs of our community.”