- Wetang'ula said the votes especially from Bungoma had a decisive impact as they tipped the scales in Ruto's favour during final tallying.
- The Speaker thanked the Luhya community for the overwhelming support they gave his political journey and said he does not take their input for granted.
Image: JULIUS OTIENO
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula has attributed President William Ruto's win to number of votes he got from the Luhya community.
In a video seen by the Star, Wetang'ula said the votes especially from Bungoma had a decisive impact as they tipped the scales in Ruto's favour during final tallying.
"We as a community, here in the west especially here in Bungoma, we thank you very much for responding to my call and my colleagues and standing with us to vote for President William Ruto to be our President," he said.
Ruto got 7,176,141 votes against his closest rival Raila Odinga of the Azimio la Umoja who got 6,942,930 votes.
This gives a margin of 233,211 votes which Raila claimed rigging played part.
In Wetang'ula's backyard in Bungoma county, Ruto garnered 229,409 votes, representing 63.15 per cent of the ballots cast while Raila managed a paltry 13,478 votes, representing 35.92 per cent of total ballots.
"It was your vote in Bungoma that dropped the weight of all that we were arguing about and it was our vote that made the difference, it dropped one person, passed another," Wetang'ula said.
Wetang'ula, who was initially in Raila's camp before defecting to Ruto's Kenya Kwanza, took credit for the ruling coalition's exploits in the Western region at the August 9 general elections.
The Speaker thanked the Luhya community for the overwhelming support they gave his political journey and said he does not take their input for granted.
"This place I have reached it's because of your prayers and your love as my brothers. I would not have been able to do it alone, this journey has become easier because every time you stand behind me and listen to what we advise, things become better," he said.
The vote-rich Western Kenya was previously a perceived Raila stronghold where the Mulembe nation always voted in numbers for the ODM leader in his previous four attempts at the presidency.
Things, however, took a turn for the worst for the opposition doyen in his fifth attempt at the August polls when Wetang'ula and ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi defected to Kenya Kwanza. prior to the elections.
Wetang'ula, who was reelected senator at the polls, resigned after he was elected Speaker of the National Assembly.
His election was largely seen as a reward by the Kenya Kwanza side for delivering the Western vote for Ruto.
Mudavadi was on the other hand appointed Prime Cabinet Secretary.