For a second time in less than three months, Kabuchai MP Majimbo Kalasinga has publicly warmed up for Deputy President William Ruto’s 2022 presidential bid.
Barely a month after winning the hotly contested by-election held in March 2021, the outspoken youthful lawmaker returned to his hometown of Chwele and delivered greetings from Ruto and his FORD Kenya boss Moses Wetang’ula.
In his usual charming eloquence and charisma, the newly elected MP told his constituents that Wetang’ula had sent him to deliver his personal greetings, and those of Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka and DP Ruto.
“Our leader senator Moses Wetang’ula asked me to greet you people of Chwele, have you received the greetings? I have also brought greetings from Speaker Ken Lusaka, have you received them? And greetings from DR William Samoei Ruto…those are the only things I was asked to say when I come here,” he stated.
The remarks left tongues wagging in Bungoma County with a section of residents and political observers speculating about a possibility of Wetang’ula-Ruto political alliance.
However, two days later, Wetang’ula dismissed the rumours and distanced himself from Kalasinga’s sentiments, claiming the lawmaker could have had a slip of the tongue while addressing Chwele residents.
But in a strong affirmation of his remarks, the Kabuchai lawmaker on Friday, September 17, declared support for Ruto from the same spot he stood when he made the previous remarks.
This time around, Ruto himself was present alongside a host of UDA-leaning MPs from Western and beyond.
Kalasinga, standing at the heart of the expansive open-air market dominated by FORD Kenya supporters, pledged loyalty to Ruto and vowed to support him defeat ODM leader Raila Odinga.
“When you see me here with Evans Kakai ( UDA candidate in Kabuchai by-election), just know Kabuchai is locked. If there is one thing that I agree with William Ruto is that we cannot support Raila Odinga again because he de-whipped Wetang’ula as the minority leader,” said Kalasinga.
He left the crowd awestruck when disclosed Ruto helped him a great deal during the Kabuchai by-election despite vying on a FORD-Kenya ticket.
“You know my friend William (Ruto), in the past by-election which I won, you really helped me even though you were in UDA, how can I abandon you? How? I will be a very bad person to do that,” said Kalasinga.
Kalasinga has emerged as one of the most loyal and vocal FORD Kenya MPs whose moves and utterances are often associated with Wetangu’la’s political standpoint.
Apart from him, FORD Kenya Secretary-General and Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa has also been hinting at working with Ruto.
Wamalwa, who is eyeing the Trans Nzioa gubernatorial seat, once asked leaders from Western region to abandon Raila and consider working with Ruto.
“William Ruto can not be wished away in Kenya politics and we should consider working with him, after all, he is just our neighbour from Uasin Gishu,” said Wamalwa during a past interview with a local radio station.
Like Kalasinga, outspoken Kiminini MP has been strongly criticising Raila’s political manoeuvres in Western Kenya and wooing the region to back one of their own or get another option.
Former Kabuchai MP Lusweti Mukwe (deceased) was also a close ally of Ruto. On many occasions, Lusweti admitted to visiting Ruto’s home and office “to look for resources to help my people”.
He also alleged top FORD Kenya party officials were regular visitors at Ruto’s Sugoi home.
Similar allegations were raised by Siriria MP John Waluke, a close ally of Ruto, who claimed some senior officials from the Lion Party “have a habit of visiting Ruto at night”.
“We have senior members of FORD Kenya who have a habit of criticising some of us who have declared support for William Ruto, but they only do so during the day, at night they also visit the same Ruto,” Waluke alleged.
Keen political observers have noted Wetangu’la’s laxity and disinterest in supporting Mudavadi for the past few months.
The Bungoma senator, who is one of the One Kenya Alliance (OKA) principals, alongside Mudavadi (ANC), Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper) and Gideon Moi (KANU), has lately been reluctant to publicly advance the agenda of the newly formed alliance.
The growing silence and absence in the national debate have opened room for speculation about his next course of action, which pundits argued could be considering to work with Ruto.
Interestingly, amid this speculation, the FORD Kenya boss has remained mum and has so far taken no issue with his area MP cosying around with the DP in Bungoma county.
