ODM leaders dismiss president's charm offensive in Nyanza region

Wandayi said the president's visit is disguised as a development tour but in reality, is pegged on marketing the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in Nyanza.

"It is not right for Ruto to come here in the pretext of development, yet he wants to spread the tentacles of his party," he said.

The minority leader alleged that Ruto was frustrating projects started by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

"What has brought you here? The Kabonyo Kanyagwal fish project is a Hungary-funded project. There is no budget allocation in the budget from the national government. All this is pretence, and we cannot allow it to continue," he said.

Wandayi was speaking during the burial of John Ouko Tweya, the father of Kisumu County Assembly Speaker Elisha Oraro, in Nyahera, Kisumu, yesterday, where several ODM leaders also dismissed the president's four-day trip to the region.

But even as ODM lawmakers dismissed Ruto's Nyanza tour, governors from the region attended the president's events.

Seme MP James Nyikal claimed that there is nothing new the president has brought to the region.

"The only new thing is the housing project. Those who moved to Kenya Kwanza should launch new projects and not existing ones. We know their plan to change the hearts of our people to embrace Kenya Kwanza, but it will not happen," said Dr Nyikal.

Suna West MP Peter Masara asked Nyanza residents to remain steadfast in ODM.

"Our party in this region must remain ODM. These ODM rebels are yet to even condole with Sondu families who lost their kin in clashes, yet they dare to run around in Nyanza, launching non-existent projects," said Masara.

Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga claimed that the president has been inspecting Handshake projects.