Senator Boy, Woman rep Masito return to Raila's ODM after dalliance with Ruto

ODM leader Raila Odinga read the riot act to the party leaders who have shifted allegiance to President William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza Alliance.

The opposition chief told ODM members to take a political stand against those who have shifted to the Government like Kwale Senator Issa Juma Boy and Woman Representative Fatuma Masito.

The two legislators who faced angry ODM members for working with Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani of UDA apologised and pledged to remain steadfast in the Orange party.

"The two have apologised before you and pledged to work for ODM. Wakitoroka tena chapa kiboko (If they leave ODM again, whip them," Raila said.

The ODM leader, however, said the two politicians had been pardoned and welcomed back into the party and urged them to oversight the Kwale county government for the sake of residents.

During a delegates meeting at Diani Reef hotel on Thursday, Senator Boy apologized for his earlier dalliance with Kenya Kwanza.

“I had slipped out of the party and almost betrayed Baba, but I am sorry for that mistake and I am now back to the fold,” he said.

"ODM is my house and I will remain there and die as a member. I have no intention of leaving this party that made me to be elected twice as senator," he added.

Raila accused Ms Masito of deserting ODM saying she has been a councillor, MCA and now Women Representative courtesy of the party.

The Senator and the Woman Rep have been attending meetings called by the Kwale governor and pledged to work with her for the sake of development of the county.

However, Raila who is on an ODM recruitment drive at the Coast said the leaders must be faithful and work hard to strengthen the party instead of joining the government brigade.

He was accompanied by deputy party leader Wycliffe Oparanya, National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi and Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung'aro among others.

Raila explained that the ODM recruitment exercise was meant to strengthen it and appealed to the youths to register in their numbers in readiness for the grassroots elections.

He said ODM had stood the test of time and time has come for its rejuvenation and ensure youths enroll to give it more energy.

Raila urged party members to remain steadfast and make it more vibrant in Kwale and other parts of the Coastal region.

He told ODM leaders not to waver saying leadership was about taking a stand and sustaining it.

The opposition leader said the party was keen to strengthen its youth and women leagues ahead of the next General Election.

"We want as many youth and women to register as members in large numbers to build a strong movement in the country," he said when he attended the distribution of bursaries by Masito in Matuga constituency.

Raila later addressed a rally at Ukunda in Msambweni constituency where he blamed Kenya Kwanza for the rising cost of living saying the government has failed to address the right to life, food, health, education and employment opportunities.

"This government has failed Kenyans because the cost of living has remained high," he said.

Oparanya told Kenyans to vote six piece for ODM if they want Raila to be a strong president come 2027.

"Vote six piece for ODM in 2027 to make Raila a strong and effective president. In Kakamega county, we have 12 constituencies and 10 MPs were elected on ODM ticket," Oparanya said.

Wandayi claimed that the cost of living has reached crisis level and Kenya was almost like Zimbabwe.

"The government has failed to check the rising cost of living, it has been giving empty promises. The Sh1 billion it has set aside to buy land for squatters in Coast is too little. Kenya is being reduced to the level of Zimbabwe," he said.

Mung'aro told Kwale residents to emulate Kilifi county which voted overwhelmingly for ODM in the 2022 General Election saying the Coast cannot afford to move away from the party that has defended their interests over the years.

"I urge Coast residents to vote for ODM because it is where our interests are. Kwale should not abandon this party because it has always fought for our rights," he pleaded.

Raila who started the Coast tour on Monday has since visited Lamu, Tana River, Kilifi and Kwale counties. He is expected in Taita Taveta county on Friday and Mombasa County on Saturday.