Kisii deputy governor Joash Maangi on Friday attended Raila Odinga’s Azimio La Umoja convention at the Safaricom’s Kasarani stadium.
Joash Maangi has been close to deputy president William Samoei Ruto, something which has always put him at loggerheads with his boss governor Ongwae who is staunch supporter of opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Governor Ongwae who is serving his second term in the Kisii county government was elected under the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket.
The presence of Kisii deputy governor at Raila’s event however shocked many people since leaders allied to DP Ruto gave the event a wide berth with others such as Alice Wahome mocking the Kasarani event as “Azimio La Mmoja.”
As a result, sources within the inner circles of William Ruto are said to be very unhappy with Joash Maangi who has always masqueraded as a staunch supporter of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
The Azimio La Umoja event at the Kasarani event brought together a number of leaders from all parts of Kenya such as former Gatanga member of parliament Peter Kenneth, Former speaker Francis Ole Kaparo, Agriculture cabinet secretary Peter Munya, Devolution cabinet secretary Eugine Wamalwa, OKA principal Gideon Moi, Former minister Cyrus Jirongo amongst others.
At the same time, there were rumours at some point that Deputy President William Ruto’s Kisii point man Joash Maangi buried the hatchet and agreed to work with Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to help him galvanise the region’s support.
On a rare occasion, Kisii Deputy Governor Joash Maangi joined Governor James Ongwae and Health Principal Secretary Susan Mochache at a service at Nyagesenda SDA a few months ago.
It is during the service that Maangi called on CS Matiang’i to bring together the Gusii Community ahead of the 2022 polls.
“We must begin to reason and work together as a community. At the opportune time, we must sit down and support one of us. Those are walking parallel must be talked to and to protect ourselves,” he said.
Thus, Joash Maangi’s latest move to join Raila Odinga’s Azimio La Umoja Convention at the Kasarani stadium is a matter of wait and see whether he has joined the ODM leader or not.
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