Acid test for DP Ruto as losers unite against Jubilee candidate

Deputy President William Ruto photo:courtesy

Deputy President (DP) William Ruto faces an acid test in his Turbo home constituency in Uasin Gishu County as political campaigns pitting Jubilee Party (JP) against the independents and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) hot up barely three weeks to the August 8 General Election.

CONSOLIDATED SUPPORT

In a recent campaign tour, voters in most regions of Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet and Nandi, assured President Uhuru Kenyatta and Ruto of consolidated support in the presidential vote but expressed their desire to choose their ‘preferred’ candidates while electing senators, governors, women representatives, members of Parliament (MPs) and members of county assemblies (MCAs).

Sixteen aspirants who lost in the nominations have ganged up against JP candidate Kevin Okwara. They now support Janet Rotich who emerged second.

Also in the race is David Songok, who was handed direct nomination by ODM and Isaac Maiyo, a supporter of the DP who emerged fourth in the nominations.

He says he is in solidarity with the rest of the losers who have resolved to rally behind Ms Rotich, an independent candidate.

“Independent is not a party but a solution for something that never went right.

I am in Jubilee but will rally behind independent candidate Rotich vying for Turbo parliamentary seat.

I will vote for Jubilee presidency but will make my own choices on other positions,” he said.

Without clarifying, Maiyo said that, “some JP people in Uasin Gishu County played their games on strategies for elective positions but were not concerned with Turbo.

Independents sasa ni kama dawa kwa sababu wengine watapiga independent, wengine Jubilee na wengine NASA (Others might vote for Turbo MP in independent and support Jubilee or NASA at the top)”.

DOOR CAMPAIGN

He added: “I will go with the will of other candidates who resolved to support Rotich during a resolution made at a hotel in Eldoret.

I will not make any impact if I isolate myself and support Okwara in Jubilee.”

Julius Kitur, who too lost in the JP primaries for Turbo added his weight in support of Rotich. “We are not going against the DP, but we will support Rotich because she lives in Turbo,” said Kitur.

“We will however support JP by voting for re-election of President Kenyatta and Governor Mandago.”

He said they will embark on a door-to-door campaign from next week to popularise the candidature of Rotich across the constituency. Songok is also leading a spirited campaign and believes NASA is gaining popularity in the region.

And Chesumei MP and former JP stalwart Elihah Lagat who has since decamped to NASA said that “Ruto wanted to field leaders who cannot question his leadership”.

Speaking at Kamagut village when he launched his campaigns, he said: “Let it be known that we shall not vote in parties. We shall vote in individuals and let no one cheat you that the region is a Jubilee zone.” The President and his deputy have called for peaceful campaings in the region.