On Sunday, June 12, the 2022 presidential election front runner Raila Odinga toured the Ukambani region to popularise the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition party manifesto ahead of the August 9, elections.
Raila who was in Athi River, Machakos County was accompanied by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Machakos gubernatorial candidates Wavinya Ndeti and Nzioka Waita among other leaders.
Nzioka Waita is seeking to succeed Governor Alfred Mutua on the Chama Cha Uzalendo (CCU) party while former Transport Chief Administrative Secretary Wavinya Ndeti is eying the same seat on a Wiper ticket.
Both Wiper and CCU are under the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition party.
Raila who was addressing the gathering to solidify the lower Eastern region behind the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition was forced to cut short his speech after a fight broke out at his VIP dais.
This was after supporters of Wavinya Ndeti and those of Nzioka Waita clashed. Raila is supporting Nzioka Waita while Kalonzo Musyoka has thrown his weight behind Wavinya Ndeti.
Trouble started when Azimio Chief Minister nominee Kalonzo Musyoka asked CCU party leader Nzioka Waita to shelve his gubernatorial ambitions in favour of Wiper’s Wavinya Ndeti.
Wavinya’s endorsement by the former vice president was not welcomed by supporters of the former State House Chief of Staff who demanded that Wavinya was the one to support Nzioka because he stuck with Raila even after Kalonzo had fallen out with Raila.
In his short address, Raila did not endorse either of the two but insisted that a deal would be struck.
“We are ready to play with the Tanga tanga team. I will play number nine, I have my team here,” these were Raila’s last words before he cut his speech short.
Odinga’s speech was followed by a commotion on the VIP podium where two gentlemen were seen exchanging blows.
