Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Beatrice Elachi has declared support for Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi’s presidential ambition after ditching Deputy President William Ruto’s camp.
Elachi joins a growing list of Jubilee party allied leaders who have crossed over from the DP’s camp to Mudavadi’s as political realignments take shape ahead of the 2022 General Election, which is about four years away.
Addressing mourners during the funeral of Lugari MP Ayub Savula daughter, Elachi called on Western Kenya leaders to join hands and rally behind Mudavadi to increase chances of producing a president from the Mulembe nation.
“We need to focus on working with Mudavadi to enhance the region’s chances of producing a president. Those who are frequenting Sugoi should stop. Let’ us reflect and start strategising early,” Elachi said.
The embattled County Assembly Speaker argued the Luhya community had supported other presidential candidates for long and that it was time for the region to back someone from the region for the top seat.
Elachi was previously supporting Ruto’s presidential bid and was one of the DP’s close allies in the Western region.
Western Kenya is generally perceived to be predominantly Opposition stronghold with a huge number of supporters of the Raila Odinga-led Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.
Ruto has in the recent past pitched tent in the region in what political analysts believe is an attempt to raid the areas perceived to be Opposition strongholds and build his support base ahead of the 2022 duel.