Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto has pledged to work with smaller parties in Raila Odinga’s turf in a new strategy that is expected to destroy ODMs dominance in the Nyanza region ahead of the 2022 elections.
Speaking after holding talks with Migori Governor Okoth Obado, the deputy president said that the hustler nation cannot win the 2022 presidency if he will keep on segregating these small parties.
“All those who have been isolated are welcome on board. We cannot form a government if we keep isolating these small parties. I am ready to work with them,” William Ruto said.
Apart from killing ODM dominance in Raila’s strongholds, the move to work with splinter parties also marks a new strategy for the deputy president to solidify his base in Odinga’s turf who is considered to be Ruto’s most formidable competitor.
Obado, who was elected on an ODM ticket but has since parted ways with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga said the idea of being zoned into a political cocoon has been the order of the day in the region and it should come to an end.
The second-term governor associated with the Green Congress of Kenya (GCK), which has its roots in Homa Bay, has declared that it will work with presidential hopeful William Ruto in the 2022 General Election.
“My party (PDP) will be working with Deputy President William Ruto to form the next government,” Obado said.
In September, the former Eldoret North Member of Parliament had ruled out forming coalitions with smaller parties in the 2022 elections.
Speaking during his tour of Western the deputy president said he will not be coerced into what he described as “tribal parties”.
“There are people who want to take us back to tribal parties – that a particular tribe should have their own party or certain people to have their own party. We want a national party which understands hustlers’ language,” Ruto said.
