ODM leader Raila Odinga is set to visit Kisii from September 24th for a BBI tour, but analyst posits the tour is meant to undo the inroads Deputy President William Ruto has made in the region once considered Raila’s.
Sources familiar with the former premier’s itinerary confided to us that Raila was not happy with the warm and thunderous reception Ruto got in the area and that he must reclaim a region that of late has voted for him almost to a man.
” Baba will be in Kisii in two weeks, the crowds will be bigger than what you saw when the DP Ruto was there,” said our source who preferred to remain anonymous because he is not authorized to talk on behalf of the ODM leader.
Deputy President William Ruto toured Kisii region on Friday, despite violent protests that rocked the town ahead of his visit.
Police were forced to use teargas or fire into the air to disperse a group of youth who clashed in the early hours of Friday, as a section of local leaders led by Deputy Governor Joash Maangi prepared for his Ruto’s visit.
Several of the youths were injured, and others arrested when police dispersed the group that had lit bonfires in the town to block the road to Nyamarambe where the DP was scheduled to hold a meeting.
One of the faction was supporting Ruto’s visit, while others were opposed to the political meeting, leading to a violent clash that paralysed operations in the town for the better part of the morning before Ruto arrived.
“Those misusing security apparatus of the country must stop. Police officers and provincial administrators must be respected and let free to serve Kenyans,” Ruto said, accusing Inspector-General of Police Hilary Mutyambai of leaning into politics.
Addressing roadside rallies on his way to Kitutu Chache South and South Mugirango for boda boda, women and youth groups empowerment programmes, the Deputy President said it was regrettable that the police were being abused to “meet certain political goals”.
“Those public servants thinking that they can use the police to intimidate and coerce Kenyans must know that their days are numbered,” he said.
If they would like to join politics, Ruto added, they must stop hiding behind the police and quit the public service job.
“Let them come over and face me in the political arena. I am ready for them,” he declared.
Ruto said he was ripe to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2022 because “I know the main problems facing Kenya: poverty and youth unemployment”.
“I have the capacity to deliver on this. That is why I am committed to supporting small businesses to help them recover from the COVID-19 crisis and stimulate their growth.”
