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The fierce infighting between United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM) leaders in the South Rift is expected to feature prominently in Deputy President William Ruto’s final rally in the region this Sunday.

Ruto has planned a rally in the historic Kapkatet grounds in Bureti, Kericho county, in an attempt to rally his supporters in the South Rift to turn out in large numbers and vote for him. Ruto’s supporters from Bomet and Kericho, two of his strongholds in the Rift Valley, are expected to attend the rally.

Bomet and Kericho boast of 805,052 votes, which he is attempting to lock following a daring, late attempt by his rival, Azimio-One Kenya presidential candidate Raila Odinga, to snatch a good part of it.

However, as he goes back to the region that voted a man for President Uhuru Kenyatta in the last two polls through Ruto’s mobilisation, he is likely to be met by a vicious supremacy battle between allies in his UDA party and CCM led by former Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto.

CCM Secretary-General Albert Kochei yesterday told People Daily they will attend the rally, saying it was a Kenya Kwanza Alliance event and of which they are members.  “We will be there. We are part of the Kenya Kwanza family. We are urging all our supporters to maintain peace and accord the DP and visitors honour and respect during the rally,” Kochei said.

The DP’s last tour of the region in January was interrupted by fierce contests between supporters of Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok of UDA and Isaac. Consequently, Ruto was forced to prematurely end a meeting in Bomet town. The two are battling for the seat and they have recently not held back any attacks on each other as the incumbent asked the South Rift voters to vote six-piece, saying it was the best way to reward the DP. 

“As the D-day fast approaches, our people are ready to separate the chaff from the wheat, elect performers and discard known failures who are after using power for selfish reasons,” Barchok said. 

Only solution

Isaac has spoken against calls for suit-voting, which implies casting ballots for only UDA aspirants, asking residents to support the DP and vote for him as governor.“We hear it loud, the outcry across Bomet and the only solution is to ensure that money circulates for opportunities to open and engage the people,” said Isaac is seeking to reoccupy the office he lost in 2017. 

Konoin MP Brighton Yegon said they were rallying all the DP supporters to attend without any consideration of which party they were affiliated to. He said their main interest was to ensure the DP got over 99 per cent of votes in Bomet and Kericho.

“We are mobilising all our supporters to attend the meeting. We will make sure the DP gets a huge reception,” he told People Daily.

The lawmaker, who won the UDA ticket to defend his seat, said Kapkatet was a historical ground, explaining that the community would respect any declaration made there.

“Kapkatet is historical ground for the Kipsigis. It is where we make major and binding declarations. We will be there to declare our total support for the DP.  We will also be making a request to him to complete key projects like the construction of Bosto Dam, Embomos-Chebugen-Nakuru road and many others that have stalled because of politics,” Yegon said.

Kochei said they don’t anticipate another disruption as happened in Bomet county, saying the previous chaos was linked to micro-management of the DP’s visit by a group of local leaders.

Raila visited the region two weeks ago and held rallies in Bomet and Kericho towns. During the meeting, Azimio leaders promised to deliver thousands of voters to him, claiming the ground was shifting to his side.

Kanu Secretary General Nick Salat promised to fight for every vote for Raila. “We will ensure he gets 30 to 35 per cent… We must vote for him so that we fully benefit from his government,” Salat said.