Deputy President William Ruto continued to suffer losses in his quest to gain the support of Nyanza and Western Kenya following defections of key allies in the regions.
Days after he lost his point man in Kisii County, Deputy Governor Joash Maangi, to ODM, another key ally, Hamisi MP Charles Gimose, declared he had quit Dr Ruto’s camp and joined Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi.
During the DP’s charm offensive in Vihiga last week, Dr Gimose was conspicuously missing, only for the MP to announce his defection days later.
Migori Governor Okoth Obado, another Ruto ally, has said he is yet to declare his preferred presidential candidate, adding, he’s popularising his PDP outfit.
Dr Gimose declared about his defection severed link with the DP: “I had only gone to feed the animals... I’m back home.”
The MP’s move means the ANC boss now has the support of six out of the seven MPs in Vihiga County, Luanda MP Chris Omulele being the exception.
It’s also significant for Mr Mudavadi as it could help him secure the over 73,000 Hamisi votes after years of opposition.
Dr Gimose was elected on a Ford Kenya ticket, but it’s through him that DP Ruto made his entry into Vihiga County, and held a series of public events in Hamisi Constituency.
With the help of the MP, the DP held a series of rallies in the vast Hamisi Constituency before and after the 2017 elections.
On Thursday, the DP credited himself for the tarmacking of the Gisambai-Hamisi-Shamakhokho at a cost of over Sh900 million after many years of waiting. He asked voters to stick with him, saying he had fulfilled the pledges he made to them.
The DP may now be forced to go back to the drawing board and find someone else to help him secure votes in the county.
In Kisii County, Mr Maangi set tongues wagging when he attended the Azimio la Umoja event at Kasarani on December 9. Mr Odinga used the event to declare he will make another attempt at the presidency in 2022.
Days later, Mr Maangi declared he had decamped from the “Hustler movement”. He has since vowed to counter the Ruto onslaught in Kisii by championing Azimio la Umoja and popularising Mr Odinga’s presidential bid.
The Deputy Governor said he plans to hold a series of rallies in the Gusii region in the next month to explain to the community why it’s important for them to back Mr Odinga.
He revealed that he had met with the former Prime Minister and agreed to ensure that all those leaders who had joined the DP’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) come back to ODM so that Nyanza can be united under one leader.
“As you know, we’ve been on the other side with Governor Obado. I want to talk to him and take him to (Kisumu Governor) Prof Anyang’ Nyongo’ so that we can have tea with Mr Odinga and back his fifth bid for the top seat,” he said.
Mr Maangi said the decision to leave UDA was aimed at delivering 97 to 98 per cent votes in favour of Mr Odinga.
The DP and his UDA outfit will now rely on the party’s National Treasurer Omingo Magara and South Mugirango MP Silvanus Osoro to spearhead his campaign in the Gusii region.
