Kuria community will vote for Ruto, say two MPs

Two legislators from Kuria have said the community will still vote for Deputy President William Ruto despite political assault from Azimio la Umoja Nyanza backyard.

Kuria East MP Marwa Kitayama and his Kuria West counterpart Mathias Robi said they are confident the community which has defied voting for opposition in the last two elections will still stand with them.

Despite losing out in the community, Azimio la Umoja presidential flagbearer Raila Odinga has been making major inroads in the community.

“Ruto has been coming here in Kuria, not once but up to three times in a year. Others only come here once and only when they want votes from us,” Kitayama said.

Kitayama said since Jubilee came to power in 2013, Ruto has been key in pushing the areas  development agenda through the government which has endeared him to voters.

His sentiments were shared by Robi.

The Kuria West MP said Ruto has visited the community at least 15 times and each time he leaves after launching a development project or leaving an impact on the ground.

“These meetings will never be undone with Raila who only comes and visit us when he wants votes,” Robi said.

He said the community stands to gain more from Ruto’s presidency as compared to Raila and they will ensure Kuria community form part of  the government.

The two leaders were spoke in Kehancha town when they met members of the  clergy in a move to start an evangelical radio station for the community.

This comes after the Bible Society of Kenya launched the first  Kuria language bible last Friday in a meeting at Kehancha stadium.

The meeting was also attended by the DP's  wife Rachel Ruto.

During a past visit in Kuria, Ruto promised to help launch the bible and gave his first Sh3 million donation to start the process.

The two legislators said the move has seen Ruto's popularity rise in the  community and this will not be outdone.

“If leadership comes from God we will get this from Ruto.We value him because as a community he stood with us at a very important part of our history and culture in launching the bible,” Robi said.

On January 20, Raila made a major hunt of Kuria votes when he was installed as a community elder in a ceremony at Kehancha.

At the same function, Principal Secretary Nelson Marwa was made the community spokesman.

During the ceremony, elders also endorsed Raila's presidential bid a move which has seen a rise in  politicians and activists in the community rooting for the ODM leader.

Raila called on the Kuria community to stand by his bid since “you gave me a shield and a spear to fight for your interests nationally, I will need you in my back as your brother in the war.”

Wilfred Machage, the deceased High Commissioner to Nigeria, served for two terms as a Kuria MP before he was elected as the first Migori senator in 2013.

His election followed  negotiated democracy initiated by Raila between the Kuria and Luo communities living in Migori.

Out of four county seats, the Kuria community through Machage as senator, Woman Representative Dennitah Ghati and deputy governor Mwita Mahanga were elected while the Luo only had Okoth Obado as governor.

“But some still went to our rivals and we could not accommodate you from the other side,"Raila said.

The Azimio la Umoja flagbearer said the main issue agitated by the Kuria community, a county of their own, will be addressed when he is elected.

In 2017, President Uhuru Kenyatta garnered 41,951 votes (65 per cent of the cast votes) while Raila got 21,202 votes (34 per cent) in Kuria.

In the repeat poll, Uhuru won in both constituencies with 19,587 votes in Kuria West and Raila got 214 votes.

Uhuru also won in the Kuria East constituency with 13,156 votes followed by Raila who got 180 votes.

In the 2013 general election, Raila tried a negotiated democracy between the Kuria and Luo communities but it flopped at the ballot.

A similar move was rejected by both communities in the 2017 elections.

(Edited by Francis Wadegu)