William Ruto leads Jubilee leaders in bid to woo Trans Nzoia

The hunt for votes in Trans Nzoia intensified over the weekend with Deputy President William Ruto making case for Jubilee Coalition in a two-day tour in the region that voted mostly in favour of Cord in the last election.

Mr Ruto crisscrossed the region on Friday and Saturday with a number of MPs who called on locals to shift their political allegiance from Raila Odinga-led Cord to Jubilee.

Leaders from western Kenya who accompanied the Deputy President on his visit in Trans Nzoia challenged locals to support Jubilee to ensure they are in the government after the next elections.

“It is obvious that Cord has no strategy to beat Jubilee. I urge you to shift gears if you are keen on uplifting your socio-economic standards,” said Webuye West MP Dan Wanyama.

Former Cabinet ministers Musikari Kombo and Dr Noah Wekesa told the the community to avoid political gambles and join President Uhuru Kenyatta's team.

“Why should you waste your votes by gambling with the opposition when it is obvious that they are masters of failure in every election”? Dr Wekesa said.

Mr Ruto urged Trans Nzoia residents to embrace the newly formed Jubilee Alliance Party because it has brought together several parties to foster national unity.

“Join our bandwagon because our agenda is not tribal based but rather an intention to unite Kenyans to jointly face our hurdles as one nation,” he said.

However Cord officials in the region told the Jubilee to brace itself for a battle over votes in the region.

Officials from Cord affiliate parties Ford Kenya and ODM said they are confident of the support by voters in the region.

Trans Nzoia Ford Kenya County Secretary Martin Waliaula said Cord is not shaken with what he called " dishing of goodies” by Jubilee.

“Let them carry out development (projects) since it is their responsibility as the government but let them not expect that to automatically translate to votes,” Mr Waliaula told the Nation.

The county’s ODM Chairman Gabriel Biketi said Jubilee has a long way to go and should not "chest thump" yet.

“Our colleagues are very optimistic that they will paint this county red yet the journey has not yet begun. Let them keep dreaming,” said Mr Biketi in Kitale.