Deputy president William Ruto has lost strongest allies from Western including Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka even as he embarks on a tour of the region.
Ruto begins his tour of Western region on Friday October 22nd and is expected to hold rallies in different towns in Busia and Kakamega counties.
The DP will traverse Kakamega county on Friday, he is expected to hold rallies in Khayega market in Ikolomani, Shianda trading centre in Mumias East constituency and Khwisero market.
On Saturday Ruto is set to visit Busia county where he will hold rallies in Butula, Nambale and Teso North constituencies.
The DP is expected to meet with small scale traders in Busia county as he popularizes his 2022 presidential bid.
Ruto who has set his eyes on the presidency was in Busia on March 12 when he presided over a fundraiser for boda boda associations in Budalang’i, Funyula, Matayos and Teso South.
He promised to return to the county to empower more small-scale traders in Teso North, Butula and Nambale.
Busia is stronghold of Raila Odinga with nearly all elected leaders including governor Sospeter Ojaamong, Senator Amos Wako, Women Rep Florence Mutua and most MPs are all diehard ODM members.
Even as Ruto embarks on his Western tour, several of his allies from the region have decamped to ODM, ANC and Ford Kenya – which are the three most popular parties in the region.
Moses Wetangula’s Ford-Kenya is most popular in Bungoma and Trans Nzoia counties while Raila’s ODM is popular in Busia, Vihiga and Kakamega counties where the three governors are ODM members.
Ruto appears to have lost some of his strongest allies from Western region including Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka and MPs Malulu Injendi (Malava), Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo) and Benard Shinali (Ikolomani).
Lusaka who is plotting a comeback as governor of Bungoma has been warming up to Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula, while Injendi has joined ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi’s bandwagon. Wangwe and Shinali have shifted their loyalty to Raila.
Benjamin Washiali, Boni Khalwale and former Sports CS Rashid Echesa remains Ruto’s foot soldiers in Kakamega.
In Bungoma, Ruto is banking on the support of Bumula MP Mwambu Mabonga, John Waluke (Sirisia), Didmas Barasa (Kimilili) and Dan Wanyama (Webuye West).
Busia and Vihiga counties are solidly behind Raila, Ruto doesn’t have elected leaders who are his allies from the two counties.
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