Deputy President William Ruto has urged the Coast to withdraw its support from Raila Odinga, as it has gained nothing from voting for him.
He equated Raila to a “serial conman” and accused him of neglecting the region, which has been his political stronghold.
Ruto spoke at Mbaraki Sports Club, Mombasa, during a county forum organised by the Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
In his ten-minute speech during the opening of the forum, he said Kenya's political space has been invaded by politicians who are full of deceit.
“In this election, the citizens of Kenya must stand up and be counted so that every leader who is being elected must be held accountable for what they say,” Ruto said.
In the 2013 election, all the six coastal counties – Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Tana River, Lamu and Taita Taveta – were under the leadership of ODM governors.
However, in 2017, Jubilee Party governors won in Kwale and Lamu while ODM bagged Mombasa, Kilifi and Tana River. Taita Taveta was won by Wiper Democratic Party.
In the past two presidential elections, Raila won by a big margin against the Jubilee duo of President Uhuru Kenyatta and Ruto in the region.
However, Ruto and Uhuru fell out in 2018. The President now supports Raila's presidential bid under the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Coalition outfit.
Ruto said the leaders in Azimio risk being conned if the ODM leader wins in the August 9 election.
The DP, who is at the Coast for a four-day campaign tour, urged Mombasa residents to vote for his Kenya Kwanza outfit, saying they have the interests of people at heart.
“Politics is all about interest. Therefore, do not be driven by euphoria and political waves to vote for people who will not help you,” he said.
Ruto asked residents present at the meeting to be candid about what they want the Kenya Kwanza government to address.
“We are here to agree on what you want us to do in exchange for your votes. We have plans for the Port of Mombasa, youth unemployment, health, business and infrastructure,” he said.
He further said the forum, which was the third and last engagement between the Mombasa people and the Kenya Kwanza brigade, will capture everything that residents want.
“Today, we have come here for final validation. From here, we will come up with a charter,” Ruto said.
In the charter, he said, they want to include the economy of the Coast, infrastructure, port operations, Blue Economy and land, among other critical issues.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
