Ruto hounded me out but I found comfort in Azimio — Tolgos

Governor Alex Tolgos of Elgeyo Marakwet has said DP William Ruto hounded him out of his camp but found mature leadership in Azimio led by Raila Odinga.

He said on Tuesday the Deputy President had even gone to his county and paraded his allies in a move he said was meant to demean him as governor.

He spoke at Kapsowar Catholic Church.

Tolgos linked his problems with the DP's camp to the stand he had taken on the Arror and Kimwarer dam scandals. The news broke in 2019 and public officials were probed and arrested.

A number were Ruto's allies.

The unbuilt dam sites are in Elgeyo Marakwet in Ruto's Rift Valley backyard. Ruto's camp said it had been targeted because some of his supporters had been arrested.

Tolgos supported government action to probe the dams and suspend the projects due to graft.

UDA coordinator in the North Rift Paul Kiprop on Tuesday dismissed Tolgos as a selfish politician who cannot get attention from DP Ruto.

"Let him focus on his sinking political ship because at no time had he been of any value to UDA," Kiprop said.

He said the region was a UDA zone and Tolgos joining Azimio was irrelevant. He said UDA has many supporters and Ruto has always welcomed all Kenyans.

Tolgos explained why he fully supported Raila's presidential campaign and said it was Ruto who chased him out of his camp.

"DP Ruto hounded me out of his camp because of my firm stand but I found mature leadership and comfort in Azimio," Tolgos said.

The governor cited the DP's visit to Sambirir Secondary School in Elgeyo Marakwet sometime in 2019 when he paraded a battery of his political allies, including Senator Kipchumba Murkomen.

Tolgos said the aim was to discourage him from his stand on the dams' scandal.

"I can never shy away from campaigning for Raila Odinga," he said.

The governor said he opted to remain in Jubilee through which he is vying for the Senate seat against Murkomen who is a close ally of the DP.

"As I remained with Jubilee party, I used my influence to lobby for road networks in our county alongside job opportunities for our people," the governor said.

Tolgos, who is completing his two terms, said he would give Murkomen a run for his money in August.

During the visit to Kapsowar, Tolgos launched his campaign, saying he had hit the ground to face off with Murkomen.

"My performance scorecard will speak for itself. However, I have led our county in the best way possible," Tolgos said, listing his achievements. 

He said he used his political network to lobby for government benefits for his county.

The governor said although the region is a perceived UDA zone, he is undeterred.

Praising Raila, he said, "The others in the race are just selfish individuals who have no plan or vision for the country."

(Edited by V. Graham)

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