President William Ruto's allies in Nyanza have vowed to turn the tables on ODM leader Raila Odinga in the region in what promises to be a fierce supremacy battle in opposition strongholds.
Allies of the president, most of whom ditched the opposition leader in the aftermath of the 2022 ODM and Azimio coalition primaries, claimed the UDA wave was now unstoppable.
The UDA adherents have been traversing the four Nyanza counties of Homa Bay, Migori, Siaya and Kisumu, registering members and citing recently launched projects as they woo support for the president.
This comes as the UDA top brass announced last week that parastatal CEOs, chairmen and board members are now allowed to contest party positions, opening the way for allies of the President who were rewarded with plum state jobs to play an active role in UDA affairs.
"President Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua mean well for this region. This is why we will do everything within our means to ensure we tilt the scales in Nyanza in favour of the ruling party. We are fully behind the two leaders," former Nyatike MP Omondi Anyanga said.
Anyanga, who chairs the board of the Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority and who has been mobilising residents to join UDA, said their projections indicate that by the end of next year, more than half of Luo Nyanza's 2,160,439 voters will be safe in UDA's basket.
Speaking during a stop-over in Homa Bay town yesterday, the former MP who was accompanied by several former Odinga's loyalists turned Ruto allies, claimed ODM was fast becoming irrelevant and that Raila had run out ideas after his mass action calls ran into headwinds.
Similar view is held by Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency Chairman Odoyo Owidi and Rangwe politician Omburo Odaje.
"We want to ensure UDA gets as many numbers as possible in Homa Bay County. We are going on with robust campaigns for membership registration," Owidi said.
He recently convened the campaign at Kachien South chief's camp in Kasipul Constituency.
Some of Raila's top allies who have since decided to work with President Ruto's government include MP Felix Odiwour alias Jalang'o of Lang'ata, Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda, Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo, Suba South's Caroli Omondi, and Gideon Ochanda of Bondo constituencies.
William Odhil, a former ODM official in Migori County, said UDA's recent decision to allow parastatal chiefs to seek party positions was timely.
"We need every hand on the deck," he said, adding that President Ruto should visit Nyanza more often to launch projects.
Last month, the president traversed the four Nyanza counties of Homa Bay, Migori, Siaya and Kisumu and commissioned projects around fishing, agriculture, trade and industry, energy, health, digital economy, roads and transport.
He commissioned the MV Uhuru II in Kisumu and the Kabonyo Fisheries Aquaculture Service and Training Centre of Excellence. He also launched the construction of Mfangano Ring Road and Homa Bay Pier in Homa Bay County.
Ruto further announced plans towards the construction of eight landing sites, revival of local rice companies, the construction of five thousand housing units and the establishment of ICT hubs.
However, ODM chairman John Mbadi and Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi have insisted that Raila remains the region's supreme and that the UDA brigade are 'wasting their time'.
"Those who are running around here marketing UDA don't represent anybody. They have gone to UDA on their own," Wandayi told locals.
