William Ruto tours Western, urges voters to shun state project Raila Odinga

Kenya Kwanza coalition flagbearer William Ruto addresses residents of Matungu in Kakamega County on July 11, 2022. [Mumo Munuve, Standard]

Deputy President William Ruto has labelled Azimo la Umoja-One Kenya presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his running mate Martha Karua state projects.

The DP who has embarked on a three-day tour of Western barely two days after his Azimio rival visited the region addressed supporters in Bungoma and Kakamega.

He said Mr Odinga had been tested and found wanting since his "entry into government through the Handshake" led to the rise of the cost of living. He urged voters to reject him.

Dr Ruto said the Azimio leader would change the Constitution as he was detached from ordinary mwananchi's needs. 

"Mr Odinga and the deep state don't buy unga. They hardly understand when you tell them a 2kg tin of maize goes for Sh200 and rising by the day, can such a person care about the cost of your living?" he said. The DP told Azimio to stop making demands from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) as it creates tension in the country. 

He said demands by Mr Odinga to have a manual register at every polling station is a recipe for chaos. "If he has no faith in IEBC let him step down as he did in the repeat 2017 presidential poll. Mr Odinga is not contesting against Wafula Chebukati, but against me," he told supporters during a stopover at Matungu in Kakamega county.

"Let President Uhuru Kenyatta leave me alone to face off with Mr Odinga so that I send him home." Addressing a rally in Malava on Saturday, the Azimio presidential candidate told supporters he is ready to send Dr Ruto home and "only a dreamer thinks I will not be on the ballot paper, I will be on it and win with a landslide."

But the DP said he was closer to the presidency than his opponent, saying compromised pollsters are portraying Mr Odinga as the most preferred candidate.