Ababu headed for Jubilee and others will follow, says Deputy President William Ruto

Deputy president William Ruto

Deputy President William Ruto yesterday sensationally announced that former ODM secretary general Ababu Namwamba would soon be joining Jubilee after leaving the Orange party.

Speaking in Baringo yesterday, the DP said Ababu’s move will precede a move by the Luhya community which has made a decision to join the ruling coalition. After this, the Kisii community will follow suit, the Deputy President declared

Buoyed by New Ford Kenya’s move to join Jubilee, Ruto said that in the coming days, most of the regional parties will be dissolving to join Jubilee.

“From Mombasa to Western, people are trooping back to Jubilee. It will be sad to see people already in government dragged out by visionless leaders,” Ruto said while addressing residents of Marigat at Marigat Boys High School.

The DP, who held three political rallies and raised funds for different groups, asked the Kalenjin community and Kanu leaders, to support his presidential bid in 2022 in the same way that they had rallied behind former President Moi until he retired in 2002.

Ruto announced that Sh800 million had been set aside to upgrade Kabarnet and Eldama Ravine County hospitals to level five hospitals which will be equipped to provide specialised services to patients. Another Sh100 million has been set aside to establish Marigat Technical Training Institute, while the tarmacking of Ainamoi-Salawa-Barwessa road will begin next January.

Thousands of residents recently blocked the Kabarnet–Iten Road to protest over its dilapidated state. President Uhuru Kenyatta will soon visit the region to commission the construction of the Karandi–Marigat road through Mochongoi, the DP announced.

Power connection

Among the development projects the Jubilee government intends to launch is the Sh14 billion Radat dam in Mogotio to provide water to parts on Mogotio and Baringo South sub-counties. It will be constructed along Perkera River after acquisition of private land from local people, said the DP.

In addition, another Sh700million will be spent between now and next year to supply electricity to rural homes and Baringo as well as the public schools that had not been connected in the remote parts of the county. The DP said 734 schools have so far been connected with electricity.

Local leaders asked residents to be steadfast in their support for Jubilee. Some of the leaders present were , Baringo governor Benjamin Cheboi, MPs Sammy Mwaita, Grace Kiptui, Hellen Sambili, William Cheptumo, Samuel Moroto, and Asman Kamama; and senator Aaron Cheruiyot. Cabinet Secretaries Phyllis Kandie and Charles Keter were also present.

The dissolution of New Ford Kenya to join the Jubilee Party has exposed the scramble for voter-rich Western ahead of the General Election.

The Standard on Sunday has learnt that President Kenyatta, his deputy Deputy William Ruto, CORD co-principals Raila Odinga and Moses Wetang’ula and ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi are seeking to reap from the fallout and realignments in political parties.

While President Kenyatta is keenly looking at re-election in next year’s polls and sees Western as an important voter bloc that will help him solidify his victory, his deputy is seeking youthful allies to help him spearhead the 2022 campaign.

Raila embarks on a four day tour of Western starting tomorrow to forestall the growing rebellion and secure the Luhya vote that he has enjoyed in the last two elections.

The CORD leader is expected to address the resignation of ODM secretary general Ababu Namwamba, vice chairman Paul Otuoma and Bungoma chairman John Waluke.

Yesterday, Mr Namwamba downplayed the impact of Raila’s visit, saying, “It will not stop our campaign for “Luhya consciousness.”

Visit conditions

“More is still to come because the third force that we have started is a big team that will be fully unveiled soon. The magnitude of the force we carry will be realised in a few weeks,” he said.

But as Raila embarks on a tour of the region, Mudavadi plans to camp for two days in Vihiga and Kakamega as he attempts to take advantage of the confusion in ODM.

Yesterday, ANC supporters held a meeting in Kakamega and welcomed Raila’s visit to Western but claimed he had taken support from the region for granted.

In a statement read to the media by Busia ANC chairman Chris Chesa, they said CORD and Jubilee leaders have a democratic right to tour any region in the country.

“Let them come and salvage the dwindling political fortunes of their parties in Western but we ask them not to insult our local leaders because that is not the kind of politics we want in our country,” said Mr Chesa. However, tension was high in Mumias town where Raila is expected to hold a rally on Friday.

Last Friday the former ODM youth leader Rashid Mohamed spelt out some conditions for Raila before he visits the town otherwise he will mobilise youth to disrupt the rally.

Apart from Mohamed, some former ODM allied youth are now supporting Namwamba and Mudavadi who will also receive officials and youth from Bungoma and Kakamega counties tomorrow who defected from New Ford Kenya (NFK). In Kakamega New Ford Kenya County Jubilee youth leader Samuel Amambia and Namamali MCA Kelvin Olengo also declared they had joined ANC after “NFK was dissolved to join Jubilee Party.