Ruto charms Nyanza with goodies amid anxiety in Raila backyard

President William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua on Saturday landed in opposition leader Raila Odinga’s Nyanza backyard with goodies amid political tension with the opposition over protests.

The president who is keen to win over Nyanza rallied residents to support his development agenda. He appealed to the residents to shun protests saying the region stands to benefit from the Finance Act, 2023.

And in an apparent attempt to dismiss criticism of ODM MPs considered ‘rebels’ by Raila’s camp, the president said his administration is keen to transform the region. 

Unlike Ruto’s recent tours across the country where together with his deputy they have minced no words in attacking Raila and his Azimio brigade over the protests, the duo appeared to strike a reconciliatory tone, as they rallied Kenyans to embrace national unity.

Gachagua avoided debate on the protests and urged the region to embrace the Kenya Kwanza administration. 

“I have said I will work with leaders irrespective of political affiliation. Because we must do away with divisive politics. We will work together to build our nation,” said Ruto.

As the Kenya Kwanza leaders were in Kanyipir, Homa Bay, on Saturday, for a thanksgiving ceremony for Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, Raila’s troops led by his brother Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga and National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi were in Kisumu consolidating support for the opposition.

Oburu and Wandayi maintained that anti-government protests will go on as planned and alleged a plot by the government to eliminate Raila.

They said Azimio should even consider declaring daily protests to pile pressure on the government to lower the cost of living.

It was a day many people had anticipated would culminate in political showdown between the Kenya Kwanza and Azimio camps after the opposition planned to have a parallel event in Nyanza.

On Saturday, however, Raila suspended plans for a roadshow at Kadel centre a few kilometers from where the president was attending the PS’s homecoming and left his ODM lieutenants to address a rally in Kisumu.

Ruto, appears to be a man on a mission to change the political tide in Raila’s backyard.

This was the fourth time since his election that he was visiting the region and the third time since the beginning of the year.

Construction of piers

And in all his visits, the president has been keen to inform residents his government’s development plans for the region.

Raila’s allies, however, claim that Ruto is hawking development to the region yet it is the right of residents since they pay taxes.

On Saturday, the Head of State termed his visit to the region as deliberate and targeted to achieve a particular goal of transforming the economy.

ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo and PS Omollo lauded the President for focusing on the region’s development agenda.

Owalo is leading the Kenya Kwanza allies charged with the responsibility of pushing bottom up agenda in the region and following up on government projects in the region.

“I am doing this because we want to change the politics of Kenya. A lot of people did not know that you can serve a government you did not vote for. I deliberately appointed Raymond to break the jinx of politics. I deliberately appointed the Chief of Defence Forces, General Francis Ogolla from Nyanza for these same reasons,” said Ruto.

The President announced that the government has lined up several projects to transform the region including the incorporation of tax on imported fish to promote the local fish industry.

Other projects include the construction of piers, six markets in Homa Bay as well as the housing project.

Ruto said claimed the decision to ban imports of furniture is also targeted at improving the economy of Nyanza and other parts of the country

“Those opposing Finance Act, 2023 want us to continue importing everything including fish, furniture among other things,” he said.

The President noted that his administration has already started unlocking job opportunities and already 55,000 teachers have been recruited.

Owalo claimed that Nyanza has been in the economic wilderness for several years but is now on the right trajectory.

“Our people in Nyanza have been in the economic wilderness for decades but we want to change this and for the first time we have gotten a government where we feel a sense of belonging,” he said.

The CS said it is time for the region to change its politics and be accommodative, and urged residents to “work with us and join the government or we will bring the government to you.”

Eight Raila allies who have declared support for the Kenya Kwanza government said they will not succumb to intimidation by ODM.

Resolve the conflict

Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda, MPs Gedieon Ochanda (Bondo), Caroli Omondi (Suba South) Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Paul Abuor (Rongo), Mark Nyamita (Uriri) and Felix Odiwour alias Jalang’o (Lang’ata) who are expected to appear before the ODM disciplinary committee on Wednesday, praised the president for working with Nyanza and requested him to revive key industries.

“The region is economically dying. We request you to help us to recover.
We have been politicking for years, we have supported those we can and the truth is it is not happening,” said Ochanda.

Leaders who accompanied the President also called for political tolerance and national unity. Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiot urged leaders to meet and resolve the conflict along the Kisumu-Kericho border.

Meanwhile, in Kisumu, Raila’s allies criticized Ruto’s policies and declared that anti-government protests are unstoppable.

Wandayi said President Ruto has no power to stop Kenyans from exercising their democratic right.

“The war is no longer between Ruto and Raila, but between Kenyans who are tired of the Kenya kwanza government,” said Wandayi.

[Reports by Harold Odhiambo, Olivia Odhiambo, James Omoro and Sharon Owino]