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Ruto, Wetang'ula Western moves lay siege on ODM

The region boasting of over two million votes, has been one of Raila’s most loyal bases outside Luo Nyanza

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by The Star

News06 June 2024 - 23:11
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In Summary


  • Wetang'ula has been spearheading Luhya unity efforts, meetings attended by opposition MPs.
  • ODM has severally warned members against attending Wetang'ula meetings.
President William Ruto received by Western leaders at Matulo Airstrip in Bungoma County on May 30, 2024.

President William Ruto and National Assembly’s Speaker Moses Wetang’ula’s forays in the vote-rich Western bloc has sent opposition chief Raila Odinga back to the drawing board.

Western, consisting of five counties, has historically aligned to Raila until last elections when Bungoma revolted and largely voted for Ruto.

The region, boasting of over two million votes, has been one of Raila’s most loyal bases outside Nyanza.

The move by  Wetang'ula to team up with Ruto ahead of last year's polls, was seen as a masterstroke against Raila.

Ruto got 7,176,141 votes against Raila's 6,942,930, a margin of 233,211 votes.

Wetang'ula's Bungoma backyard delivered 229,409 votes to seal Ruto's victory.

A rejuvenated Ruto, having wooed both Musalia Mudavadi and Wetang'ula to his side, is making a charm offensive in Luhyaland.

Political dynamics at play including dangling state goodies as well as new push for community unity, has seen the region gravitate towards the ruling Kenya Kwanza in the recent months.

The situation has been worsened by the recent extensive tour of the region by the two with analysts now saying the forays could significantly chip away Raila's fortunes.

This has not only been demonstrated by high profile defections including ex-Busia governor Sospeter Ojaamong but has extended to the current crops of leaders expressing their commitment to work with the President in 2027.

Wetang’ula and by extension Ruto axis, seems to have emerged the biggest winner of the bubbling Western political contest, that has seen Raila drop a number of his political lieutenants in the region.

Apart from Ojaamong, other big key opposition leaders who have defected from Raila's camp include ex-Bungoma governor Wycliffe Wangamati, Sirisia MP John Waluke  and former Busia Woman Representative Florence Mutua.

Waluke, elected on Jubilee ticket, has since shifted his loyalty to Kenya Kwanza

Over the weekend, Kakamega Governor Fernandas Barasa who was elected on Raila’s ODM ticket, announced he will support the President in 2027.

“I want to assure you, that as leaders from Kakamega county, we will support you to a man in 2027,” Barasa said during a prayer service attended by both President Ruto and Speaker Wetang’ula.

Observers argue that the opposition chief might find himself walking a political tightrope if the region decides to join the government en mass.

Apart from the state appointments, Ruto has also commissioned a number of development projects in the region as part of his promise to the region ahead of polls and in a bid to chip away at Raila's fortunes.

The head of state is now keen on exploiting his close ties with key Western Kenya bigwigs to turn the tables.

Apart from his new push for Luhya unity, the Ford Kenya leader has also been holding strategy meetings with  select opposition leaders as he quietly consolidates the region ahead of 2017 polls.

Wetang’ula has been holding fund drives in Western attended by MPs and MCAs from both Azimio and Kenya Kwanza in what has been termed "unity of purpose".

The latest being last week’s Monday meeting at his Kabuchai home that was attended by over 10 Azimio elected MCAs from the Western county assemblies.

Days before the Kabuchai meeting, ODM had warned its members to keep off the meeting threatening disciplinary action against members who defied the directive.

Party executive director Oduor Ong’wen wrote to all party members in Kakamega, Busia, Bungoma and Vihiga, hinting at possible disciplinary action against those who would attend the meeting.

“The ODM party has been informed of an informal invitation to some or all of you by the leader of Ford Kenya party Moses Wetang’ula, to a meeting on or around June 3, 2024, at his home in Kabuchai, and whose agenda is unknown to us,” the letter reads.

“I am instructed by the party leadership to inform you that attendance of such a meeting shall be subject to the ODM constitution Article 12 (1) (c) and lead to being deemed to have resigned from party membership.” 

Raila allies however dismissed the inroads theory saying the political situation has not changed in Ruto’s favour.

The region, they noted, is firmly under ODM and Raila’s grip.

Vihiga senator Godfrey Osotsi said Ruto’s forays have been overshadowed by a litany of unfulfilled promises some made during campaigns.

“This is not the first time Ruto is making visits to the region, at one point, he stayed there for a week and moved to all the counties. All those amounted to nothing,” Osotsi told the Star.

“Most of the promises he made up to date have not been accomplished, they were just street promises and people are disappointed.”

He continued: “That promise of 30 per cent of state appointments has not been honoured, a part from one or two significant appoints, the rest are very insignificant appointments.”

According to the two-term lawmaker, the region can only be swayed if either Wetang’ula or Mudavadi is on the ballot in 2027 as either presidential candidate or running mate.

“If Mudavadi or Wetang'ula is not on the ballot in 2027 it will be very difficult for them to convince Luhyas to vote for Ruto and I don’t see that happening,” the Raila ally said on phone.

“Ruto’s foras must be measured by how the party is doing on the ground, UDA has been doing elections, why is there no excitement about the grassroots elections?”

 

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