Ruto takes blame for rebellion in ODM as Raila camps in stronghold

Deputy President William Ruto has come out to claim credit for the rebellion in Opposition leader Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) in western Kenya and coast regions.

Mr Ruto also hinted that ODM secretary general Ababu Namwamba, who resigned from his party position citing frustrations and betrayal, could be headed to the governing Jubilee coalition.

According to Mr Ruto, his aggressive campaign to seduce the populous western region that backed Mr Odinga in the last election has started bearing fruit.

The DP has made several trips to western Kenya where he has been asking residents to abandon the ODM party.

Mr Ruto also hosted a group of Luhyia politicians and grassroots leaders at his Sugoi home in December.

Speaking in Kericho on Friday night, the DP reminded his supporters that he had invited leaders to his home where he prevailed upon them to back Jubilee.

"Waswahili husema ukiona vyaelea jua vimeundwa," he said,which loosely translates to 'when you see things coming together, know they have been planned (for)'.

“You have seen that Mr Namwamba has already shattered the Orange party in western. To which party do you think he is headed?”

(READ: Ababu quits ODM post, says Raila betrayed him)

PAUL OTUOMA'S RESIGNATION

In what has stirred debate about Mr Odinga’s grip of the western vote, Funyula MP Paul Otuoma also resigned as party vice-chairman while Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka dissolved his New Ford Kenya party and led a group of politicians from the region to join Jubilee.

Due to what appears to be an increasingly restless western region, Mr Odinga will camp there for five days beginning Monday to address issues raised by local leaders and fight the onslaught by the Jubilee coalition.

Mr Odinga will address 13 rallies in Vihiga, Kakamega and Busia counties to quell growing discontent, Kisumu Senator Anyang Nyong’o said on Saturday.

But while announcing his resignation from the party position two weeks ago, Mr Namwamba ruled out the possibility of joining Jubilee and indicated that he would team up with like-minded politicians to form a third force.

“I am not going to Jubilee. Jubilee is not even an option. Jubilee is not on the table,” he said days after leading 11 ODM politicians to express dissatisfaction with the Odinga party. 

And speaking in Busia on Saturday, Dr Otuoma declared that he was in ODM to stay and accused Mr Odinga of unwillingness to embrace dialogue.

(READ: Ababu hints at forming third political force)

He asked Mr Odinga to address issues raised by 11 western Kenya MPs, who he said lack power and a channel to raise their concerns.

He accused unnamed MPs from Luo Nyanza of isolating Mr Odinga from other party leaders, saying they were the main reason he has failed to clinch the presidency.

"If we've differences as ODM family, some people should stop threatening us, telling us to leave ODM. We are the party," he said when addressing residents in Bumula, Busia County.

Dr Otuoma indicated that he would not be attending Mr Odinga’s rallies in the region but urged to local residents to attend and receive the former premier.

“I resigned because my ideas were not listened to. I am currently fully enjoying all privileges and benefits as an ordinary member of ODM. I still participate and contribute to the party activities,” he said.

DP RUTO FORAYS INTO WESTERN AND KISII

Mr Ruto said his political forays into western Kenya to seek support for Jubilee had succeeded after New Ford Kenya officials agreed to dissolve the party.

The appointment of Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa was seen as a calculated effort to reach out to the populous Bukusu vote - which is Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula’s bargaining chip in the Cord coalition.

Mr Ruto said his main focus was coast, the larger Gusii region and western regions.

The DP revealed that more than 15 legislators in the coastal counties – considered a bedrock of support for Mr Odinga – had expressed a wish to cross over to Jubilee.

A faction of coast leaders led by Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung’aro have indicated that they will abandon ODM in the next election.

“I will go there and talk to them so that they can also come to Jubilee. If we want to lead this country, we must have support across the board,” he noted.

“I have been working tirelessly to win the support of the regions that did not vote for us in the last election.”

Mr Ruto has visited Kisii region more than nine times with the last time being on Friday where he opened an agricultural show accompanied by former Commission on Constitutional Implementation Chairman Charles Nyachae, who appears to be positioning himself to be the Jubilee point man in the region.

On Saturday, Prof Nyong’o said it has always been Mr Ruto’s strategy to weaken the Opposition.

However, he said that the DP would not succeed.

“The so-called defections in ODM are exaggerated. If one person is disgruntled it does not mean the ground will move with him,” he said in response to arguments that the Orange party was losing ground in its strongholds.

“It is part of Mr Ruto’s strategy. They tried the same at the Coast but they lost the Malindi by-election. Their main focus is western and Kisii. You can sway a few people but not all of them,” said the Kisumu senator.

(Read: Defections heighten vote scramble in western region)

Mr Ruto has visited the western region more than six times in the past three months.

He has has visited Lugari, Malava, Mumias East, Navakholo, Ikolomani and Matungu constituencies. His main pointmen have been Lugari MP Ayub Savula and his Mumias counterpart Benjamin Washiali.

The DP kicked off his visits of Kakamega County in January this year where he presided over the Batsotso Cultural Festival at Ematia in Navakholo constituency.

He later headed to Butere constituency on May 14 for a funds drive at Butere Girls High School.

Mr Ruto had a week earlier been in Lugari constituency to commission the construction of the Chebwayi Technical Training Institute.

On June 4, Mr Ruto accompanied President Uhuru Kenyatta to attend the burial of former Cabinet Minister Soita Shitanda at Butali market in Malava constituency.

Mr Ruto was also in Mumias to preside over a funds drive in aid of the Mumias Anglican Church.

And early this month, he sent his aide, Faroul Kibet and Aldai MP Cornelly Serem to Vihiga to meet local professionals who later announced their support for Jubilee.

RAILA SUPPORT IN WESTERN

But Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, who is also the ODM deputy party leader, and his Busia counterpart Sospeter Ojaamong have allayed fears that the party was losing ground in the region, maintaining that it will sweep majority of seats in the next election.

The two also downplayed Dr Otuoma and Mr Namwamba’s resignations.

Speaking after leading a meeting of leaders from Busia, Kakamega, Bungoma and Trans Nzoia, the governors said that the western region still remains firmly in ODM.

The governors affirmed their loyalty and unwavering support for ODM leader Raila Odinga.

“ODM is very strong in Kakamega county and the entire Western region. We are strong than we were in 2013,” said Mr Oparanya

Mr Ojaamong said the party is still intact in Busia County adding that no ward representative had defected.

“All MCAs are still in ODM including majority and minority leaders. No one defected with Mr Namwamba,” he said.

(Editing by Joel Muinde)