Kakamega Deputy Governor-elect Ayub Savula now says he was coerced into joining the Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition in months leading up to the August 9 general election.

Speaking at a funeral service in Lumakanda on Saturday, September 10, 2022, Savula sensationally claimed that he was forced to ditch the Kenya Kwanza Alliance and its presidential flag bearer William Ruto and support Azimio’s Raila Odinga for the presidency.

He said the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) were weaponised to target him and members of his family, forcing him to jump ship.

“Mimi nilikuwaa nasupport (Ruto) na roho moja. Nilikuwa nashurutishwa kusupport hiyo camp nyingine. Kabisa nawaeleza ukweli. Lakini mimi nikasema wacha nivumilie haya yote yataisha. Mtu ashike bibi yako cell, wewe mwenyewe cell na bibi mwingine cell. Nani atalipa bond na nyinyi wote mko ndani? Si mmoja inatakikana abaki nje aende bank atafute bond?” Savula posed.

Loosely translated, “My choice was Ruto but I was coerced to shift camp. I am telling you the truth. I decided to persevere because if they arrested me and my wives who would bail out the other?”

I have always supported president elect William Ruto. When I did it for the first time openly in 2017, tge @DCI_Kenya and @KRACare were weaponised and used to target me and my family and to intimidated me. I will support and work with @WilliamsRuto as deputy governor of Kakamega pic.twitter.com/fayqYfEKYM

— HON. AYUB SAVULA (@HonAyubSavula) September 11, 2022

Savula said this while urging the President-elect not to victimise those who didn’t support his State House bid.

He affirmed that he will support the incoming administration to meet its mandate.

Savula ditches ANC

Savula ditched Kenya Kwanza-affiliate Amani National Congress (ANC) party in January this year and joined the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K), which he used to vie for the deputy governor seat.

The DG’s remarks come amid a mass exodus of politicians from Azimio to Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza camp ahead of Tuesday’s inauguration.

Immediate former Kisii Governor James Ongwae on Friday ditched Azimio for Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza Alliance.

Ongwae led a delegation of leaders from Kisii and Nyamira counties to Ruto’s Karen residence for what the group termed as “partnership” talks.

The leaders included immediate Kisii Woman Representative Janet Ong’era, ex-MPs Ben Momanyi (Borabu), Zepedeo Opere(Bonchari), Jimmy Angwenyi (Kitutu Chache North), Manson Nyamweya (South Mugirango), Stephen Manoti(Bobasi) and Zadock Ogutu (Bomachoge Borabu).

Abagusii Council of Elders chairman John Matundura and former Transport Chief Administrative Secretary Chris Obure were also present.

“We have had a fruitful meeting with the President-elect and told him that we are ready to work with him and support his government,” Ongwae said.

“As a community, we are ready to work with the President-elect,” he added.

Ongwae and Ong’era were key allies of ODM party leader Raila Odinga, who took a leading role in the former prime minister’s presidential campaigns in the Kisii region in the just concluded elections.

Meanwhile, a section of Azimio leaders led by ODM party deputy leader Wycliffe Oparanya has criticized the recent defections terming them as electoral fraud.

The former Kakamega governor, while vowing to stick in the opposition, said the country needs a strong opposition to keep the incoming administration in check.

“Quite a number of members of Azimio going to Kenya Kwanza is very unfortunate and if they are being enticed to move, then it is an election fraud because you cannot be talking about Azimio just a week ago then move to Kenya Kwanza thereafter because maybe you want favours,” Oparanya said.

“We must have a strong opposition that will oversight the ruling party. They made promises and we are looking forward to make sure that they deliver. But as for me, I will stick in the opposition, I have been given a chance to be in opposition.”