ROBERT NYAGA | NATION Mr William Ruto (right) is received at the Malindi Airport by Kaya elders led by the chairman Mr Charo Menza. He was with Trade minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere (centre).
By DANIEL NYASSY, dnyassy@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Saturday, July 2 2011 at 20:52
Posted Saturday, July 2 2011 at 20:52
Eldoret North MP William Ruto took his campaign for the country’s presidency to the Coast region and addressed public rallies in Malindi and Kilifi counties.
On Saturday the suspended Higher Education minister was at Chuani Secondary School in Bahari constituency where local leaders urged him to go for the top seat and promised to back him.
Lands assistant minister Gonzi Rai, who was among 11 MPs – including Information minister Samuel Poghisio – in Mr Ruto’s entourage, asked Coast people to rally behind the Eldoret North MP.
He said the problems facing Coast region were a result of welcoming many parties which ended up dividing them.
Local leaders were optimistic that UDM, the party associated with Mr Ruto and which former Msambweni MP Abdulla Ngozi termed the “new party that would unite the country”, would produce the winner of next year’s presidential election.
Former Kisauni MP Ananiah Mwaboza asked the Coast people to speak with one voice.
“Big party leaders come to take away what the Coast can offer, but Ruto has come to seek partnership with local leaders. This time round we should unite and put our eggs in one basket – UDM,” he said.
Last Friday, Mr Ruto was at Bomani in Magarini district, where he said the case involving him and five other prominent Kenyans at the International Criminal Court at The Hague would not deter him from becoming Kenya’s next president.
He helped raise Sh1.55 million for 25 churches and five mosques.
“One friend told me recently that he supports my presidential bid, but how about the case in The Hague? I want to answer him now,” Mr Ruto told the crowd. “During the time just before independence, the British colonialists jailed Mzee Jomo Kenyatta so as to scuttle the process. But did they succeed?” he asked them, and they answered “No!”
“I tell you they will not succeed either. I am here for the presidency and change. It’s only through us that change will come,” he said.
Mr Ruto said he had begun his campaign on the Coast where he was negotiating with local MPs for partnership and a possible running mate.
“I have already discussed with minister Ali Mwakwere, Dr Naomi Shabaan, assistant minister Samuel Gonzi Rai and Kazungu Kambi, all of whom have agreed to be in my camp. More will join me as negotiations continue,” he said.
Mr Ruto flew to Malindi in a Kenya Wildlife Service plane accompanied by Mr Mwakwere and MPs Ekwee Ethuro (Lodwar), Mohamed Hussein Ali (Mandera East), Mahmoud Ali (Moyale) and Mr Kambi.
But Coast Parliamentary Group (CPG) assistant chairman and Gideon Mung’aro said Mr Ruto was wasting his time campaigning in the area and declared the Coast an ODM zone.
“The small crowds that Ruto attracted in Malindi and Magarini are clear indications that he is doing zero work. We shall organise massive ODM rallies in the area to counter the little impact he made,” the Malindi MP said yesterday.
Mr Mung’aro said ODM MPs from the Coast were firmly behind Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who is the ODM party leader.
Other leaders who attended Mr Ruto’s rally in at the meeting in Bahari were Chachu Ganya, Ben Gunda, Kazungu Kambi, Cyrus Jirongo and former House Speaker Francis ole Kaparo.
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