By James Mbaka
A recent visit by Deputy President William Ruto to Kisii for a party organised by a top ODM luminary has raised political temperatures in the region amid claims of a spirited drive to endear the community towards the Jubilee government.
It is now emerging that the Deputy President’s attendance at the homecoming for Kisii County Deputy Governor Joash Maangi was a political move designed and executed to send signals of ongoing realignments in the political landscape of the region.
Jubilee strategists from the larger Kisii have been meeting to lay political grounds to allegedly influence local ODM bigwigs to support the government in the wake of referendum calls.
With the calls seemingly tearing the jubilee government within its ranks after Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto, who is the chairman of the Governors Council, broke ranks with his URP party to support the referendum, the Jubilee strategists might have turned to another avenue to neutralise governors by using their deputies.
This is allegedly targeted at ODM strongholds to test waters before rolling out the plan in other counties in a move aimed at building favourable ground for Jubilee in case the push for a referendum sails through. The region voted overwhelmingly for CORD leader Raila Odinga in the March 4 General Election. It is on this background that Maangi invited the Deputy President to attend his homecoming at Riabongera in Bomachoge Chache Constituency last weekend.
The party was attended by Kisii Governor James Ongwae, the County Member of Parliament Mary Sally Otara, Nyaribari Chache MP Chris Bichage, Bomachoge Chache MP Simon Ogari and his Bomachoge Borabu counterpart Joel Onyancha.
Curiously, other top ODM bigwigs from the region including Kisii Senator Chris Obure, South Mugirango MP Manson Nyamweya, and Kitu Chache South MP Richard Onyonka did not attend.
The presence of Joel Onyancha of TNA fuelled speculations that Jubilee was warming up to working with Maangi. Onyancha, alongside Kitutu Chache North MP Jimmy Angwenyi, were the only pair of TNA elected MPs in the larger Kisii region.
Reports indicate the Jubilee Alliance is trying to penetrate Kisii region using Maangi since the governor, James Ongwae is perceived to be too close to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
