Luo-Gusii political alliance to protect Matiang’i in offing – Weekly Citizen

William Ruto’s constant visits to Nyamira and Kisii counties have started causing anxiety, tension, fear, panic and animosity among the elected leaders from the Gusii community who are for the candidature of the Interior cabinet secretary Fred Matiang’i for the coveted seat of presidency come 2022 general elections.

ODM is working on a Luo-Gusii political alliance to tame Ruto’s influence in the community. Already, MPs from Luo Nyanza have vowed to protect Matiang’i. Senator Sam Ongeri is the person behind the alliance that has the full backing of ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Led by Homa Bay Town MP Opondo Kaluma, the MPs praised Matiang’i and swore to protect him in parliament from Tanga tanga brigade that is allied to Ruto.
Kabondo Kasipul MP Eve Obara said the Interior minister needs support from Kenyans with Paul Abuor of Rongo saying South Nyanza region has Matiang’i as the only government minister whose visibility is seen and is true to his word.
Leaders from Nyamira and Kisii counties have been rallying behind Matiang’i’s candidature in 2022, with sources indicating that he will venture into politics when time comes.
That anti-Ruto forces are not happy with his Kisii inroads manifested when local MPs recently organised demonstrations against DP in Nyamira.
For many hours, demonstrators paralysed businesses along Kisii-Nyamira Highway with placards that read: “Matiang’i must be respected”.

Obara

Ruto had left Tente SDA Church for Gekano Parish in Kitutu Masaba when several drugged and drunken youths gathered and started singing pro-Matiang’i songs.
It has since emerged that Matiang’i was aware of the protests funded by a second-term MP to provoke Tangatanga supporters and Ruto following frequent trips to Nyamira. Also targeted were MPs Vincent Kemosi and Joash Nyamoko.
During the function, Governor John Nyagarama and his wife Naomi sent a donation of Sh30, 000 but skipped the function at Tente SDA Church where Ruto was present.
Demonstrators went on to engage police near Sironga in Nyamira. Kemosi accused opponents of organising the demonstrations to throw mud at certain leaders.

Kaluma

The Matiang’i team, which is led by governors James Ongwae (Kisii), John Nyagarama (Nyamira), senators Okongo Omogeni (Nyamira), Ongeri (Kisii) and a number of members of parliament and MCAs is uncomfortable following the recent gains Ruto is making to the interior remote areas of the two counties which are perceived as the political bedrock of Matiang’i.
According to an MP in Ruto camp, the overwhelming reception and support which Ruto is enjoying from the community of late, has forced the Matiang’i team to go back to the drawing board and devise ways of how to contain him and the other leaders from the community who are supporting his bid.
However, those supporting Ruto say they are back him because he participates more in development matters compared to Matiang’i who is only known in issuing threats instead of assisting his own people.
“What we need is a person who wants our people to be empowered economically. We can’t support Matiang’i because he comes from our community, but on grounds of performance like what Ruto has done,” Ben Mogaka who is a Ruto diehard remarked.
According to one of the insiders in the Matiang’i group, they have hatched a plot to have Ruto heckled whenever he visits any part of the Gusii region so that he is blocked from selling his candidature and policies to the Kisii community.
The same source confided to this writer that they have also resolved to organise demonstrations against the DP using the boda boda riders in a bid to scare him from coming to campaign in the Gusii region.
“We want the DP to know that Gusii region is a political reserve of Matiang’i just like other communities which have their political bases in their regions like the Luos, Kikuyus and Kalenjins,” the source who sought anonymity stated.
When Ruto toured West Mugirango constituency, boda boda riders disrupted the DP function at Tente SDA church but police repulsed them near Borabu as they headed to the venue of the function.

Matiangi

After the police sensed danger, they called for more reinforcement from other police stations and controlled the situation.
MPs from the area who accompanied Ruto, Joash Nyamoko (North Mugirango), Silvavus Osoro (South Mugirango), Vincent Kemosi (West Mugirango-host), Shadrack Mose (Kitutu Masaba), Alpha Miruka (Bomachoge Chache) and Kisii deputy governor Joash Maangi condemned the planned demos which they claimed were organied by the Matiang’i team.
Osoro particularly took issue with Governor Nyagarama whose house is hundred metres from the venue as one of the leaders who were using proxies to embarrass the deputy president in making his development visits to Nyamira county.
The vocal MP claimed that Nyagarama is with Matiang’i so as to seek protection from him over the corruption incidents which have engulfed his government but told him that he should be prepared to carry his own cross as Matiang’i has no capacity of protecting corrupt individuals.
Nyamoko warned that no amount of intimidation or harassment from any quarter could stop the people of Nyamira from supporting Ruto for the top seat.
When Ruto stood up to speak, he also pointed an accusing finger against Nyagarama by telling him to stop playing cheap politics.
He wondered how a governor could skip a function on his doorstep because of fear of being victimised by some individuals.
Ruto also told Nyagarama to stop intimidating and threatening people supporting his leadership and advised him to go and read the book of Mathew chapter 10 verse 26-28.
However the pro-Matiang’i group led by Ongeri quickly dismissed the claims that their team is plotting to disrupt the DP functions in Gusii region.
Ongeri termed the claims as false, malicious and cautioned leaders against giving false claims which he said may plunge the country into chaos.
He challenged leaders from different political sides to preach peace and unity among Kenyans reminding them that the unity and peace of the country is bigger than individuals.

Nyagarama

Borabu MP Ben Momanyi who is also supporting Matiang’i for presidency asked aspirants from communities which have had opportunities to lead this country to step aside in favour of those who have not done so.
He told the deputy president to shelve his ambition for the top seat of presidency in favour of Matiang’i if he is a true patriot.
Ruto who camped in Nyamira county for two days asked area residents not to blunder with the 2022 presidential general elections by voting in a person for the top seat whose record of performance is wanting and questionable. Ruto said that the next presidential race will be a contest between a performer and nonperformers.
He asked members of the Abagusii to remain united under the Jubilee government which also recognised them by appointing some of their sons and daughters to key positions in the government .
He cited Matiang’i, Chief JusticeDavid Maraga, Solicital General Ken Ogeto, Kenya Commercial Bank CEO Joshua Oigara, Susan Mochache (PS Health ) among the many Kisiis the Jubilee government had brought on board.
He took issue with Raila Odinga whom he accused of plotting to hijack the leadership of the country through the handshake.
Ruto also used the visit to conduct harambee for boda boda youths in North Mugirango, raised funds for Tente SDA church in West Mugirango before moving to Gekano catholic parish in Kitutu Masaba where he also conducted a fundsdrive for the church.