Blow for Ruto as his Allies in Kakamega Change Tune

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Dr. William Ruto together with Dr. Boni Khalwale. Some MPs from Kakamega have shown intentions to ditch Ruto in 2022. Photo/File

Deputy President William Ruto’s ambitions to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2022 continues to face an uphill task after MPs from Kakamega county who had been supporting his bid started to tone down, changing their initial support.

Sentiments made recently by the MPs who included Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo), Bernard Shinali (Ikolomani) and Malulu Injendi (Malava) clearly indicates that the three have changed their tune saying that they were currently concentrating on ensuring that the Luhya community are in the next government.

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Former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale and former Sports CS Rashid Echesa at a function in Kakamega. Photo/File

The three said that any candidate yarning for the community’s support should be prepared to dialogue with Luhya community leaders. Mr. Wangwe revealed the leader’s stand on the matter;

“Deputy President William Ruto is our neighbour and a friend but he will not get the community’s direct endorsement in his 2022 Presidential ambitions if we will not be in a position to dialogue with him on how our community will benefit from his Presidency,” said Wangwe.

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Bumula MP Mwambu Mabonga, Deputy President Dr. William Ruto, Dr. Boni Khalwale and Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali during a past funds drive in Bumula. Photo/File

Dr. William Ruto has over the past one year made a number of trips to the Western Kenya region and in specific Kakamega county popularizing his bid in the region ahead of 2022.

Among strong Ruto’s allies from Kakamega county included Benjamin Washiali (Mumias East), Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo), Bernard Shinali (Ikolomani), the former Sports CS Rashid Echesa and the former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale.

Despite this, Echesa had earlier on also indicated signs of ditching Ruto’s camp after a series of misfortunes that befell him while still in the Jubilee party. Echesa who is a lukewarm politician is still undecided on whether to go with William Ruto or his newly found ally Musalia Mudavadi.

Echesa maintained that it was a high time for the region to come together and stand with one of their own if they indeed wanted to form the next government in 2022.

“Those in Amani National Congress (ANC) party ought to realise that Mudavadi is a leader for all, he is the strongest presidential candidate we have in Western and we must help him clinch the top seat by all means,” he said.

Such sentiments were however rubbished by Boni Khalwale who insisted that the Luhya nation should side with William Ruto who had shown intentions of clinching the seat in order to be part of the next government.

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“We don’t want to show mixed signs concerning our support for Dr. William Ruto because he is currently better placed to win the Presidency in 2022. Let us support him so that our community will have a say in the next government. Said Dr. Khalwale.

 

 

 

 

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