Last weekend, Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition party flag bearer Raila Odinga led his presidential campaigns in Rift Valley, a region believed to be William Ruto’s political bedrock.
The former Prime Minister peacefully traversed the region from Nandi to Uasin Gishu County where three times Steeplechase world Champion Ezekiel Kemboi endorsed Raila’s fifth stab at the presidency.
On Monday, August 1, UDA presidential candidate William Ruto traversed the Rift Valle to destroy the network that Raila had established.
Days after Raila’s successful political tour in Ruto’s political base, the deputy president has faulted Raila for using violence to prevent him from campaigning in his Nyanza backyard.
While citing the November 2021, incident in which a mob pelted stones at his motorcade in Kondele, Kisumu County, the deputy president wondered why Raila is welcome in Eldoret but his people stone him (Ruto) when he visits Nyanza.
“It is unfortunate that we cannot go to Kisumu, Siaya, Nyanza and Homa Bay, and Migori because our good friends (Raila Odinga) who pretend to be democratic cannot allow anybody to go to his backyard,
“We have tried to go. Even, as Deputy President, I cannot go to Nyanza because they stoned my vehicle. But for us to show the foolishness of violence we welcome Raila here so that he can carry the shame of not allowing others to go to Nyanza province,” William Ruto said.
Ruto said if elected President in August, he will free the region from Raila’s political bondage and will walk and support the residents to grow economically under the bottom-up model.
In November 2021, the 2022 presidential front runner, who was in the region to popularise his presidential bid, was forced to cut short his speech after rowdy youth hurled stones at his vehicles.
Kondele is perceived to be at the heart of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s political bedrock.
