Several Azimio governors initially sympathetic to President William Ruto’s administration have apparently returned to the fold as reality dawns on them ahead of the 2027 election.
The governors have dropped their ‘we are working with the government’ pledge and recoiled behind opposition chief Raila Odinga in hitting at the government.
They are Fernandes Barasa (Kakamega), Abdulswamad Nassir (Mombasa), Simba Arati (Kisii) and Paul Otuoma (Busia).
DAP-Kenya’s George Natembeya (Trans Nzoia) has also returned to his political house after months of promising to work with the government.
The county bosses, soon after the elections and for the better part of last year vowed to embrace the government, with some criticising and avoiding Raila whose party they ran on.
They attended Ruto’s meetings held in their backyards while some skipped Raila’s events – including those staged in their counties.
Incidentally, this was at the time the opposition boss stepped up his onslaught against Ruto with countywide street protests.
Most of them skipped the protests.
Political observers attributed the governors’ sudden change of heart to various political reasons linked to their survival in 2027.
They said the opposition bases have remained politically intact, contrary to expectations by some county bosses that the President would turn the tide in the regions.
The pundits added that the realisation that Ruto could not directly support the county for bosses for reelection as his party candidates has contributed to their return.
“The ground is very hostile. Ruto has not done well. There is public anger. So, any governor who attempts to associate with him, especially from opposition bases, must face resistance,” Martin Andati said.
Nairobi-based political risk analyst Dismus Mokua said the governors’ move stems from pressure from their parties and the need to please their parties for reelection.
“It is the case that some governors who are looking at the 2027 scoreboard may fear working closely with Kenya Kwanza administration because of Azimio leadership pressure and fear of securing ODM ticket in the 2027 elections,” he said.
Mokua, however, added that open hostility to the national government may comprise the governors’ capacity to deliver on their mandates.
Last week on Monday, Governor Otuoma was booed and heckled during an ODM rally led by Raila in Busia.
Attempts by the governor to calm down the youth were futile, compelling the county chief to prematurely end his speech before handing over the microphone back to Raila
The governor has been accused of being a Kenya Kwanza sympathiser after he declared he would work with Ruto.
Last year, he skipped opposition meetings held in the county and avoided Azimio’s street protests.
Tellingly, he attended a thanksgiving service attended by the President in the county on May 28, 2023.
However, Otuoma made an about-turn and attended Monday's rally where he attempted to convince the hostile crowd that he was still a member of ODM.
On January 12, Governor Arati, who last year declared he will work with President Ruto’s government, professed his unwavering support for Raila.
“I want to tell the government that even if I am shot at, intimidated or jailed I will continue to serve Kisii as the governor. As ODM vice chairman, I insist that Nyanza is our bedroom and we will defend that politically at all costs,” he said.
In March last year, Arati affirmed his support for President Ruto, saying the country can have only one President at a time.
This was despite claims by his party boss that the opposition does not recognise Ruto as President.
The opposition had at the time intensified pushback against Ruto. Arati, who had joined Ruto in his tour of the county, told the President that he would work with
“We can have only one President at a time,” Arati told Ruto during the launch of Kegati water project.
In Kisii, Education CS Ezekiel Machogu and South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro are seen the President’s choices for Kisii governor.
In November, Mombasa Governor Nassir was forced to drop his gloves and scathingly attack Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua whom had accused of not helping flood victims.
The governor said, “Wale wananipinga sasa walinipinga tangu nikuwe bungeni. Tutaendelea kuzungumza, likiwachoma chomekeni. Hatuuziwi uoga.” [My rivals have opposed me since my days as MP. We shall continue speaking out, even if it hurts them. We shall no be intimidated.]
Gachagua had claimed that Nassir had failed to help flood victims despite billions of shillings lying idle in the bank accounts of the county government.
“I want to tell the Governor of Mombasa, Mr Nassir… utoe miguu kwa gunia… As the national government, we shall try and purchase food. But we want the county government of Mombasa… the governor to release the funds to buy food for the county residents,” Gachagua said.
Nassir is among the opposition governors who appeared to have embraced Ruto and his government immediately after the elections.
He has attended nearly all meeting organised by Ruto not only in Mombasa but in other parts of the coastal region, leaving no doubt that he was working with the administration.
Ruto’s UDA fielded EALA MP Hassan Omar as its candidate for the Senate in 2022. Omar is likely to run for the seat on the party ticket again in 2027.
Two months ago, Governor Natembeya attacked DP Gachagua, accusing him of being behind the troubles between him and his deputy Philomenah Kapkory.
He said cracks started appearing after Gachagua made a statement during Ruto’s visit to Western in August.
He said the DP declared that any leader from the region who was not present at the presidential meeting, which the county boss claimed he was not invited to and was the target of the statement, was not working with them.
“The problems started with the Kakamega function which I did not attend. From that day, my deputy became very big headed. Actually, I have never seen her since that time,” Natembeya said.
“I wish I had gatecrashed the President’s meeting, I would have avoided all these problems,” he added.
The attack came months after the governor led a team of leaders from his county to a meeting with the President at State House.
At the meeting, Natembeya said he was committed to working and supporting the President.
“We will work with the government. I was among the first leaders to congratulate the President and I recognise his leadership,” he said.
