MP disowns Ruto, pledges loyalty to ODM
An MP has changed tune on his support for Deputy President William Ruto declaring that he was solidly in ODM.
Kilifi North MP Owen Baya said he associated with Ruto just in support of the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga but has not shifted political ground.
“I have cooperated with DP Ruto in line with the handshake between President Kenyatta and Raila Odinga. I have worked with the DP because he is my friend. I have worked closely with various leaders for the sake of development,” Mr Baya explained.
Mr Baya insisted he was a steadfast member and supporter of ODM.
MP disowns Ruto
Mr Baya, Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa and Msambweni MP Suleiman Dori are among legislators who publicly announced they would support Mr Ruto bid for presidency in 2022.
The pronouncement landed Ms Jumwa in trouble with her party which announced stripping her of her membership, a matter she successfully contested at the Political Parties Tribunal recently.
Ms Jumwa has however also toned down on her campaigns for Ruto who at one time took the Coast region by storm after winning many opposition legislators to his side.
Mr Ruto who used to make frequent visits to the Coast region counties has kept away for months now even as his camp appeared to disintegrate.
Mr Dori who is the Coast Parliamentary Group (CPG) chairman has since apologized to ODM and went silent on the Ruto backing.
CPG has also been thrown into confusion after the Ruto movement was derailed leading to its dormancy.
Other Coast opposition MPs who were also Mr Ruto’s foot soldiers were Kaloleni MP Mr Paul Katana (ODM), Kisauni MP Mr Ali Mbogo (Wiper) and Kilifi county Women MP Ms Gertrude Mbeyu whose voices have also gone silent.
Instead, Mr Mbogo who has nursed gubernatorial ambitions has since joined Mombasa governor Mr Hassan Joho who is in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s camp and fierce critic of DP Ruto.
Governor Joho has also been working closely with Baringo senator Mr Gideon Moi who has since announced the political ties during a courtesy in the former’s office in Mombasa.
By Patrick Beja
