ODM boss Raila Odinga on Friday received a major boost in his quest to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta after bigwigs from Western Kenya backed his 2022 bid.
This even as Deputy President William Ruto's presence at a football tournament organised by an ally of Musalia Mudavadi in Kakamega swirled speculations about a possible union.
The DP made a grand entry into Mumias sports complex moments after Raila concluded his rally at Bukhungu stadium in the same county.
The tournament organized by Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala lifted the lid on the behind the scenes negotiations that could birth a Ruto-Musalia 2022 pact.
In his Western edition of the Azimio La Umoja campaigns, Raila raided Musalia's camp, bagging party deputy leader and Lugari MP Ayub Savula.
Ikolomani MP Bernard Shinali and his Navakholo counterpart Emanuel Wangwe-both of Jubilee-joined at last 11 ANC and Ford Kenya MCA in endorsing Raila.
At a mega rally at the historic Bukhungu stadium organised by Cotu secretary general Francis Atwoli, Luhya elders threw their weight behind Raila.
Mudavadi was the biggest casualty after the elders replaced him as the Luyha political kingpin with Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, a Raila confidant.
“We, the elders of the Western region, noting that the country is geared towards political transition, therefore resolve and direct that the region shall be part and parcel of Azimio la Umoja under the leadership of Raila Odinga,” the elders declared.
In a statement read by Peter Ludama, the elders poured cold water on Musalia's bid for the country's top job vowing to support Raila.
“We shall mobilise our community to support and vote for Odinga as the fifth President of the Republic of Kenya," they said.
The developments could significantly deflate Musalia's spirited push to consolidate his Luhya backyard ahead of the 2022 polls.
Critically, Savula declared that he had decided to back Raila because he believes that the 2022 presidential contest is a two-horse race with Ruto.
"The 2022 presidential contest is a two-horse race between Raila and Ruto, nothing else," declared Savula as he vowed to support the Azimio La Umoja movement.
The movement is soon tipped to morph into a political party once the amendments to the Political Parties Act are approved by Parliament and signed into law by the President.
Signalling crossing the point of no return, Savula said he had also left the One Kenya Alliance, the fledgling outfit housing ANC and three other parties.
Ford Kenya's Moses Wetang'ula, Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper) and Gideon Moi (Kanu) are members of Oka as well.
"I have also abandoned the One Kenya Alliance. I am tired with that nonsense," Savula declared before Raila received him at Bukhungu Stadium.
Inflicting more injury on the Musalia camp, Teso North MP Oku Kaunya also announced his endorsement of Raila.
Nominated MP Godffrey Osotsi, who severed links with ANC in 2020, also affirmed his support for Raila in next year's general election.
"I am here to officially join the Azimio La Umoja from ANC party because this is where the future is," Kaunya said.
It was, however, the declaration of Oparanya as the Luyha community's spokesman that offered Musalia a devastating political setback.
Musalia had in 2016 been installed as the Luyha nation's political kingpin, handing him immense influence to lead the community against his rivals.
On Friday, Musalia kept off the event graced by top allies of President Uhuru Kenyatta including Jubilee secretary general Raphael Tuju, Defence CS Eugene Wamalwa and a host of government officials.
Saboti MP Caleb Amisi said Western will always vote for Raila as has been shown in the previous elections.
“The country needs a revolution, rejuvenation and renaissance. The only person with charisma and energy to undertake that is Raila,” Amisi said.
Raila, who is betting on the revival of the Mumias Sugar factory, unveiled the new investor whom he directed to ensure the firm is up and running in six months.
The ODM boss accused Deputy President Ruto of sleeping on the job for the last ten years, only to claim to have the magic to revive the region's sugar sector if elected in 2022.
"He has been in government for all that time, why is he again promising to restore the economy and yet he is there?"Raila said.
Nominated MP Maina Kamanda told off Ruto for tagging Raila a state project, saying the ODM boss has suffered for the country.
"Ruto, you have to lose elections for about two or three times before taking over as president," Kamanda said.
Former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth called on Kenyans not take chances in the coming elections saying the country could be lost if some leaders are elected.
“We can lose this country if we give it to wrong hands. Let us be careful who we elect to lead this country next year,” said the former Gatanga MP.
A recent opinion poll by Infotrak reduced this year’s presidential race to a two-horse race between ODM leader Raila Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto.
According to the poll findings, Raila will win with 33 per cent against Ruto’s 32 per cent.
The Luhya community is the second most populous group after the Kikuyu with two million registered voters.
On Friday, the two frontrunners in the State House race – Raila and Ruto – raided Mudavadi’s Western backyard in a serious charm offensive of the vote-rich region.
Raila staged a big rally at Bukhungu Stadium where Luhya elders endorsed his 2022 bid to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta.
As Raila was drumming support for his bid, the DP on the other hand took his vote-hunting mission to Sirisia, Bumula and Malaba.
He later landed in Mumias where he was the chief guest at the finals of Cleo Malala Tournament.
Both Mudavadi and Wetangula, however, did not turn up at Mumias sports complex despite earlier communication indicating the two would grace the occasion.
The presence of Ruto at Muadavdi’s man event, however, led to speculation of a possible behind the curtain negotiation between the two leaders who are both nursing presidential ambitions.
The Bukhungu rally was attended by among others former presidential candidate Peter Kenneth, businessman SK Macharia, governors Charity Ngilu (Kitui), Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega), Wilberforce Ottichilo (Vihiga), James Ongwae (Kisii), nominated MP Maina Kamanda and a host of MPs.
During the rally, Malala was on the receiving end with speakers bashing him over his remarks last week threatening to block Raila from holding a rally at the stadium.
Raila cautioned the senator against playing tribal politics that has potential of dividing Kenyans ahead of elections.
“Tell that Omondi that he is from Ugenya, his grandfather was buried in Ugenya, Siaya county, while my grandfather is buried in Matungu, Kakamega. I am a Kenyan and the only Nabongo remaining,” Raila said.
Malala had last week claimed that Mudavadi must give permission before Raila accesses the Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega county.
