ODM MPs reveals why they kept off Ruto’s Nyanza tour

Deputy President William Ruto’s ‘tangatanga’ missions are inevitable. On Monday, the DP toured his rival’s backyard to launch development projects. The DP was in ODM leader Raila Odinga’s Migori backyard, and today he is in Homa Bay.

Did you hear ODM MPs first speaking on DP Ruto’s tour as dangerous and aimed at undermining the handshake between Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta? They declared not to attend the rallies and told off Ruto on Nyanza affairs, and further accused him of launching grand-coalition government projects.

The MPs skipped Ruto’s tour and they are now claiming that they had not been invited.

Awendo MP Walter Owino said ODM MPs skipped Deputy President’s tour as they were not invited in good time.

The lawmaker said they got official information on the tour on Sunday night, a time most of them had scheduled Monday activities.

“I had travelled from the constituency after my weekend activities. It was not easy to make a return trip within such a short notice,” Owino said.

The MP said legislators and a number of politicians that had campaigned for Senator Ochillo Ayacko in the October 8 by-election were excluded from the tour.

During the tour of Homa Bay and Migori counties, Ruto launched roadworks and rural electrification projects.

Deputy President William Ruto launches works on the Kanyadhiang' - Kadel road on Monday, November 5, 2018. /DPPS

But Owino maintains that there was also no proper plan for the projects, citing lack of cash for their implementation.

ODM MPs and MCAs gave the DP’s tour a wide berth. Ruto was received to Homa Bay by former MP James Rege and in Migori by Governor Okoth Obado.

“We did not want to attend an event we were not invited to,” the ODM MP said.

Owino further said since the roads in question are yet to be allocated cash, there are risks they would be subject of ridicule if the same do not kick off as expected by locals.

“Take the case of the Mbita hospital. I would have preferred that the DP goes there with a solution – say an ambulance, other than a promise to initiate renovation works,” the lawmaker said.

Image result for Tangatanga memes and gifs

“Ruto as a government representative, a senior one for the matter, should be abreast with the risks of giving people such promises,” he added.

The MP further dismissed claims that the DP has a chance of making inroads in Nyanza adding that those who back him cannot play in the same league as ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Ahead of the meeting, Suba South MP John Mbadi – also ODM chairman, said the DP’s ‘development tour’ could ignite tension and undermine the handshake.

Raila was however away from the region and his allies had to take over the political rive with Ruto.

Image result for Tangatanga memes and gifs

Ruto is eyeing the Nyanza vote in his quest to succeed Uhuru in 2022. The region largely supports Raila.

The MPs urged the DP to stop subjecting the country to a perpetual campaign mode but now, whom will they back in the next elections now that Odinga has decided to keep off 2022 succession politics?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *