You played Raila, Kabando says after Jubilee MPs meet Ruto

The political elite has continued to react to the State House visits by opposition MPs as critics accuse President William Ruto of stifling democracy by 'buying' critics.

The President has over the past two days met over 40 Azimio-allied MPs for a breakfast meeting where he said they agreed to work together to ensure the needs of the people are member as the number one priority.

On Wednesday, Ruto met 32 Jubilee MPs a day after holding a similar 'development-oriented' meeting with nine ODM lawmakers.

The MPs, who included former Murang'a Woman Rep Sabina Chege and EALA MP Kanini Kega, said they were glad to be back home. 

The MPs said they were at State House solely to follow up on promises on development projects in their home tuffs. 

In responding to the new development, former Mukurweini MP Kabando wa Kabando termed it a betrayal to Azimio leader Raila Odinga whose presidential bid they backed in the 2022 polls.  

"You guys played Raila, but he himself felt he was sufficient with Uhuru's franchise. How sad! Weep, my beloved country," Kabando said.

In the run-up to the August 9 general elections, Chege and Kega were among Mt Kenya MPs that went against the new wave created by Ruto's UDA and backed Raila for the top seat.

Chege dropped her quest to defend her seat on Raila's promise for a ministerial post while Kega lost the Kieni seat to a UDA opponent.

Pundits and political observers see Ruto's dalliance with the Opposition leaders as a political scheme to weaken Raila's Azimio camp as he prepares to enhance his revolt against the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Without trusted foot soldiers and lieutenants to lobby Azimio supporters to turn up in numbers at the planned anti-Ruto rallies, the protests are likely to lack colour and fail to achieve the desired results of showing a people disenfranchised by the government of the day.

Raila has called on his supporters to resist the government's punitive policies including increased taxes and called on Ruto to resign saying his presidency is illegitimate.

He claims he won the August polls with 8.1 million votes against Ruto's 5.9 million.