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Azimio-One Kenya leader Raila Odinga is targeting over one million votes in Deputy President William Ruto’s stronghold of the Rift Valley, despite the latter’s confidence of scooping over 90 per cent of the region’s support.

The DP has not put much effort to defend his turf — covering eight counties — hoping the residents will still turn out in droves to vote for him.

The region covers Bomet, Kericho, Nandi, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo-Marakwet, Baringo, and parts of Trans Nzoia and West Pokot. These are considered a solid voting bloc for the DP because most of the residents share his ancestry. 

But with less than a month to the August 9 General Election, Raila’s allies in the vast region say they have the strength and determination to go far and wide to woo as many voters as possible.

The region has 2,831,422 votes. The Azimio team is targeting at least 35 per cent of these, about 990,998 votes.

Warm reception

At the weekend, Raila took his campaigns to Bomet and Kericho where he got a warm reception. In addition to this visit, Raila’s team is also planning a huge rally in Eldoret, the home town of Ruto, and more tours before the elections.

Kanu Secretary General Nick Salat says they have the ability to amass thousands of votes for Raila, adding that he is not a difficult candidature to sell. “We will make sure he gets 30 to 35 per cent; we can even give him more than half the votes here; no problem at all. But we must vote for him so that we fully benefit from his government,” said Salat.

Kanu is a member of the Azimio coalition that brings together over 20 outfits. Raila’s Rift team is led by former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Sally Kosgey, a senior politician from the region who is widely respected by her colleagues, owing to her stature and knowledge of politics.

Before joining politics in 2007 when she was elected Aldai MP, Sally had served in senior positions in President Daniel arap Moi’s administration, the last post being Head of Public Service. She and Moi (now deceased) left office in 2002.

Together with Salat, Sally welcomed Raila to Bomet and Kericho at the weekend, beseeching residents to vote for him as he was on the brink of taking over power. “When we worked with Raila during the grand-coalition government, he gave us eight Cabinet slots. I don’t have any doubt that when he gets the presidential seat, Rift Valley will be in that government and we will be happy and comfortable,” said Sally.

During the grand-coalition government formed after the 2007 post-election violence, Raila — then a Prime Minister and co-principal in the political administration with President Mwai Kibaki, appointed Sally as the Higher Education Cabinet Minister before transferring her to Agriculture docket. She replaced Ruto at Agriculture after he was moved following a maize scandal in the ministry.

Kosgey, who served in the Agriculture docket until 2013, said Raila had the interests of Rift Valley residents at heart, adding that he would not fail them if elected to the nation’s top seat next month. 

“Some of our people have been made to fear him but this is our person; we know him very well. I can’t tire of thanking him, he has done us proud. I never thought in my lifetime we would break this ceiling and have a woman as a deputy presidential hopeful,” she added. 

Raila has picked Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua as his running mate, and she is primed to be the nation’s first female DP if the duo is elected.

Salat said any winning coalition that involves the Lake region has a potential of positively changing the lives of Rift Valley people. “If Mt Kenya and the Lake join hands and we are not with them, we are doomed. We must be in this coalition; we must be in the government of Baba (Raila),” he said.

Allies of Raila believe he has made significant inroads in Narok and Kajiado but want to extend this support. They are now targeting Ruto’s solid bloc where they believe a good number of disgruntled voters could be swayed.

The Azimio team is aiming at disgruntled voters, especially those dissatisfied with Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance nominations in April.

Raila’s allies say they will deliver him votes since the ground is receptive to the alliance’s agenda.

In Bomet and Kericho, the leaders said the thousands of people who turned up at the weekend to receive a message of hope for a third liberation of Kenya, were sure proof of a sea change in the region.

Elgeyo-Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos, who is a member of the Rift campaign team, said they would move house-to-house to sell Raila’s message, promising to hit the set target.   

“We are glad the ground is shifting and is embracing the safe pair of Baba and Martha, who are tried and tested leaders. We shall mop up votes for this winning team,” said Tolgos.

Ruto’s allies have, however, dismissed Raila’s attempts to snatch votes from his base, saying such efforts will end in futility.

“There have been very peaceful Azimio rallies in Iten, Eldoret, Kericho and Bomet. We ask our competitors in Azimio to tell their supporters to stop throwing stones when others are campaigning in their backyards,” said Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi.