Nyanza Jubilee leaders vow to stay in hotel till President Uhuru Kenyatta comes

More than 30 Jubilee leaders from Nyanza, who had camped at a Kisumu hotel for more than a week to prepare for President Uhuru Kenyatta’s visit, have expressed their disappointments for the eleventh hour cancellation.

The President was to start his visit to the lakeside city last week, only to cancel it due to what State House termed as, his inability “to reschedule pressing prior commitments in time.”

According to earlier communication by Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma, and the president’s political advisers, the President, his deputy William Ruto and Cabinet Secretaries were to tour the region for three days.

While addressing a press conference on Thursday at the hotel in Mamboleo area, the Jubilee leaders from Nyanza vowed to stay put in the hotel until the President shows up.

‘’We have put everything in place. We are ready to receive the President any time to inspect development projects. Should he fail to show up, we will be greatly disappointed,” said Yusuf Odongo, Nyanza region Jubilee chairman.

The leaders appealed to the President to tour the region without fear saying Nyanza, which has been denied development by previous regimes, is part of Kenya.

The chairman of United Republican Party (URP), for Nyanza, Zubeiri Odhiambo said nobody should bar the President from visiting the region and called on the Opposition to be tolerant of divergent views.

In what appears a fresh crack in the Jubilee leadership in the region, the leaders faulted their members who are based in Nairobi.

“There are people who are claiming to talk on behalf of the Coalition in this region. The President should ignore them and work with dully elected officials,’’ said Odongo.

Local MPs have since given opposing reasons for the postponement of the visit. It was claimed some legislators were not comfortable with the timing of the visit, especially when former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was out of the country.

“Raila is a senior leader of Nyanza and it would be good if he is around when the President is coming so that he can join the team,” Nyando MP Fred Outa said in an earlier interview.