A section of Ukambani leaders have expressed concern that Governors were being blackmailed to support Opposition leader Raila Odinga.
They claimed that the Governors have been asked to either support Mr Odinga or face corruption charges.
The leaders who included MPs said Governors have opted to save themselves from prosecution by supporting Mr Odinga.
They Spoke during public rallies in Zombe, Mutomo, and Ikutha in Kitui East and Kanyangi in Kitui Rural, Kitui County attended by Deputy President William Ruto.
They were MPs Nimrod Mbai (Kitui East), Victor Munyaka (Machakos Township), former Kitui Rural MP Charles Nyamai, and former deputy governors Jonathan Mueke (Nairobi) and Peninah Malonza (Kitui).
Mr Mbai said state agencies were using Governors to popularize Mr. Odinga’s candidacy against their wishes.
“Governors are supporting Raila Odinga because they have been told if they support Dr Ruto they will be prosecuted,” said MP Mbai.
The Kitui East legislator said the move was facilitating corruption in counties hence denying the people services.
Munyaka said Governors were supporting Mr Odinga to secure their freedom after misappropriating public funds.
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Mr Munyaka told the governors that Mr Odinga, through the government backers, can only protect them for a few more months.
“They are following Raila to secure state protection for the crimes they have committed while in office,” said Mr Munyaka
He added:” He (Raila) can only protect you for the next 9 months.”
Mr Mbai said Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru was threatened with trumped-up charges immediately she defected to the Hustler Movement, a move aimed at coercing her to change her decision.
He faulted Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu for focusing her energy on fighting Dr. Ruto on social media instead of serving Kitui County residents.
Mr Mueke told Governor Ngilu to stop looking down on struggling Kitui residents and instead offer solutions to the challenges facing them.
On his part, Dr. Ruto appealed to Kenyans to rally behind Hustler Movement’s bottom-up economic model that aims to transform their lives.
He said the bottom-up economic model was Kenya’s best option for addressing the country’s challenges citing poverty, hunger, and unemployment.
The Deputy President said the trickle-down economic model had failed to address the needs of ordinary citizens and only benefited a few individuals.
“Let us unite and vote in a government that will uplift our businesses, create jobs and support our farmers,” said Dr. Ruto.
He asked Kenyans not to allow politicians to divide them along tribal lanes.
Dr. Ruto said his competitors had failed to unite under one national political party and instead opted to bank on tribal parties.
“If you can not agree on a simple issue such as uniting in one political party, how will you unite Kenyans,? he asked.
Dr Ruto also urged Opposition leaders to stop criticising his bottom-up economic model without offering an alternative agenda to Kenyans.
Dr Munyaka appealed to Mr Odinga to reach out to his supporters to maintain peace and exercise political tolerance.
“What we witnessed in Kisumu is very dangerous. It can easily incite the rest of the country into violence,” said Mr Munyaka.
