Preparations to host President William Ruto in Homa Bay on Saturday, July 15, are in top gear even as local UDA politicians alleged a plot to disrupt the thanksgiving ceremony for Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo .
According to the party officials, a last-minute plan by Azimio leaders to organise a political rally at Nyamasaria Bus Park in Kisumu is intended to paralyse the ceremony at Kanyipir in Homa Bay County.
Mr Hesbon Omollo, the PS’s elder brother, said they had invited politicians allied to Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition, including Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and Senator Moses Kajwang.
“This is not a political meeting and we welcome everyone, including all elected leaders from this region,” said Mr Omollo yesterday while briefing journalists at Oriwo Boys High School, the venue of the meeting.
He said they are expecting to host over 10,000 guests.
Yesterday, the Interior PS said tomorrow will be a special day.
“It’s a thanksgiving for being appointed PS. We expect President Ruto to be in Homa Bay...He will use the opportunity to reaffirm his commitment to the people of Homa Bay,” Dr Omollo said.
Mr Omollo termed as reckless the move by some Azimio leaders to intimidate people who are planning to attend the thanksgiving event.
He was reacting to calls by Market Milimani Ward MCA Seth Kanga who called on opposition supporters not to elect those who will not attend the rally in favour of the meeting to be attended by President Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua.
“People who support Raila Odinga should make a clear decision on whether they want to be here or Homa Bay,” Mr Kanga said during the Wednesday anti-government protests at Nyamasaria.
But Mr Omollo said the organisers of the Nyamasaria rally intend to waylay the people who will use the Kisumu International Airport and take the more than 70km journey to the venue of the thanksgiving ceremony.
He noted that Cabinet secretaries, principal secretaries and parastatal heads, among other dignitaries, have confirmed their attendance.
“We have also asked opposition leaders to grace the thanksgiving ceremony that will start at 8am, and will include a church service,” he added.
However, the presence of Azimio politicians at the meeting will likely be seen as a sign of betrayal to Mr Odinga, especially at this time when the opposition has intensified its political war against Dr Ruto.
When President Ruto first visited Homa Bay in October last year for a prayer service at the AIC Church, leaders from the Orange party led by Governor Wanga gave the meeting a wide berth.
Others, including Homa Bay town MP Peter Kaluma, said they got the invitation late and could not catch a flight from Nairobi.
Dr Ruto visited Homa Bay for a second time in January when he launched the construction of affordable housing.
Mr Omollo described the event as significant, saying it comes at a time when the powerful docket of Interior PS is held by a person from the Luo community, and Homa Bay County in particular.
After the meeting, President Ruto is expected to launch a number of development initiatives in Homa Bay, including road projects.
“Let us support the government. We are all taxpayers and if the government embraces you in terms of development, it is good to reciprocate,” he said.
Meanwhile, UDA officials in Homa Bay, led by county chairman Collins Kadweya, have expressed hope that President Ruto’s tour to the county will promote development.
The Head of State is expected to launch the construction of Mbita-Sindo-Magunga-Sori road and Rusinga ring road which connects fishing villages and the market.
UDA Secretary John Kisiara and women leader Melida Auma criticised Azimio leaders for leading protests against the government.
They told Homa Bay residents not to participate in street demonstrations that will hurt the county’s economy. “Protests lead to slow growth of the economy. Businesses will not open and that is a loss to the government because it cannot collect revenue,” Ms Auma said.
