The race for top positions in President William Ruto’s administration is heating up in Nyanza, pitting original Kenya Kwanza supporters against recent Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party defectors.
The lobbying is so intense that some of Dr. Ruto’s supporters and Kenya Kwanza officials are warning the President about ‘opportunists’ who never supported him during campaigns but are now hoping to profit from his victory.
The recent visit to the President’s residence by some Kisii and Nyamira leaders, led by former Kisii governor James Ongwae, has sparked criticism from Kenya Kwanza and Azimio leaders, who have termed the group as opportunists and political turncoats.
Some Gusii elected leaders dismissed the Ongwae team as self-seekers, claiming that the Abagusii were not consulted to develop a specific agenda for the community to be presented to the President on the people’s needs and how they wanted them addressed.
The Ongwae team, which included former woman representative Janet Ong’era, former Cabinet minister Chris Obure, former MPs Jimmy Angwenyi, Chares Onyancha, Richard Tongi, and Ben Momanyi, among others, paid a visit to Dr Ruto in Karen, Nairobi, ostensibly to form a new working relationship for the Gusii people’s interests.
Nyamira Senator Okong’o Omogeni questioned the legitimacy of politicians who were defeated in last month’s elections purporting to represent the interests of Gusii voters without the support or participation of elected representatives.
He accused Mr Ongwae and Ms Ong’era of being political traitors despite claiming to be staunch supporters of Azimio leader Raila Odinga.
“We are surprised that James Ongwae, who has been appearing very close and hosting Odinga at every opportunity, has abandoned him to go to meet with the President instead of visiting the Azimio leader and comforting him for the election loss,” Mr Omogeni said.
Silvanus Osoro, Dr Ruto’s Gusii point man, noted that when graft was revealed in Kisii County, where Mr Ongwae was governor until a few weeks ago, he led the team to meet with the President.
Mr. Osoro stated that while Dr. Ruto’s government will be for all people, they will welcome them “to the winning team but not with personal demands.”
“The queue for personal demands is long. Theirs will be sorted in 2032. As for community needs, elected leaders are in control, not former leaders.”
Ugenya MP David Ochieng, former Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo, former Kisumu senator Fred Outa, ex-Kisumu governor Jack Ranguma, and ex-Migori governor Okoth Obado are among those who have recently defected to Dr Ruto’s side.
Dr. Ruto’s supporters in Luo Nyanza are urging him to give opportunities to those who have stood by him rather than those who have recently joined him.
“While we appreciate and want to receive into the fold all those who were aligned to the Azimio coalition from this region, we appeal to His Excellency President Ruto to be cautious of opportunists and scavengers from this region who now want to masquerade as his point men in Luo Nyanza yet they were nowhere for him at his greatest hour of need,” said Mr James Waore Diangá, the UDA Siaya County coordinator.
