Deputy President William Ruto yesterday accused the ODM party of “hate-filled obsession” with him amid claims that he had a hand in the just concluded Migori by-election.
Through his spokesman David Mugonyi, Ruto said he did not understand why the party and its leaders were dragging his name into everything. He said the “the anti-Ruto spectacle in ODM is evidence of failure of reason and perspective”.
“ODM has been driven by a consuming, hate-filled obsession with the Deputy President. They cannot understand it,” he said, adding that as a result, they have let their “worst impulses impel them from one terrible decision to another.”
Ruto was reacting to claims by ODM leaders that Eddy Okech, the political novice who narrowly lost the to Ochilo Ayacko in the Migori by-election was his ‘project’.
During the campaigns preceding the Monday election, ODM leaders claimed that Ruto had funded Oketch, a 27-year old candidate on the Federal Party of Kenya.
But Ruto yesterday denied knowing Oketch and told off those who framed the by-election as a contest between him and Raila.
“First and foremost neither Raila nor Ruto was on the ballot. Neither do we know the candidate who gave ODM a run for its money.
“What is new, however, is how ODM has infected all its political sidekicks with this inexplicable animus. ODM’s minions now run about spewing undignified, hateful and shameful venom without rhyme or reason,” read Mugonyi’s statement.
Ruto is known to be good friends with Migori governor Okoth Obado and has been trying to win over the minority Kuria community in the country.
Although a relative newcomer into politics, Oketch waged a bruising battle against Raila’s political juggernaut, losing the mini-poll to ODM’s Ochillo Ayako by a slim margin of 25,679 votes.
Oketch polled 60,555 votes against the former Cabinet minister’s 85,234 votes, in a race that left the orange party’s presumed dominance badly dented. It left many analysts mulling over Raila’s influence in Nyanza.
Oketch initially sought the ODM ticket but announced his withdrawal after meeting with Raila. Two days later, he rejoined the race through the Federal Party of Kenya. Migori ODM branch denounced the direct nomination of Ayacko, who has been involved in a bitter tussle with Obado for the governorship.
During the last two weeks of the campaign, Oketch had at his disposal a chopper with which he traversed the county. It costs between Sh600,000 and a million to hire a chopper for one day.
Oketch also seemed to enjoy the goodwill and network of Obado’s political support base. The list he presented to IEBC was similar to what Obado presented in 2017. It included two people who died three months ago.
From the results, Oketch scored highly in Obado’s constituency of Uriri where he got 14,000 votes against Ayacko’s 6,000.
Oketch also defeated Oyako in Nyatike where he got 9,000 votes while his opponent managed 4,000.
People close to Raila told the Star yesterday that the ODM party leader was concerned that Ayacko was struggling in some areas.
He then deployed his deputy party leader, Hassan Joho, and director of elections, Junet Mohammed.
“When we realised that things were not very good in some places, we asked all our MPs from the country and neighboring counties to take charge of their respective constituencies,” said Junet.
The party also sought help from its MCAs who, in some cases went door-to door to fish for votes for Ayacko.