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ODM leader Raila Odinga and his allies took the Azimio La Umoja campaigns to Gusii where they accused the Deputy President William Ruto of panic after sensing defeat in the next election.

Raila’s key backers took a swipe at Ruto  over his claims in the US on Wednesday that of plans by the Sate to rig the August General Election and asked him to come clear on what he knew about the alleged plan.

The allies who accompanied Raila during his tour of Nyamira and Kisii counties said the DP’s outburst before a foreign audience was an indication he was laying the ground to reject the poll results in August.  

While campaigning in Nyamira Raila said Kenyans had decided to support his  candidature for the  presidency so that he can liberate them from the economic challenges and crises which have engulfed the country.

Governors Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega), Hassan Joho (Mombasa), Cornel  Rasanga (Siaya), James Ongwae (Kisii) and Amos Nyaribo (Nyamira)  faulted Ruto  accusing him of lying to Americans the 2022 presidential election will not be fair .

“We want to remind Ruto that the next presidential general elections will be determined by Kenyans but not foreigners,“ Oparanya told a gathering at Nyamira Primary School Sports grounds.

Oparanya dismissed Ruto’s claims there are plans to compromise Kenya’s democracy even as they claimed that the DP is setting the stage to dispute the outcome of the August 9 polls.

Speaking in Nairobi, ODM National chairman John Mbadi said Ruto had sensed defeat.

 “The signs are clear; the mountain (Mt Kenya) is shifting (its support from Ruto). There is no way he is going to win this presidency. No wonder he has started speaking the language he is speaking,” said Mbadi.

“The way the political tide has changed in the country has caused panic across to our competitors. You can obviously see that Raila Odinga is cruising to the presidency.”

He said the DP had bragged he was headed for a win and that no one was able to challenge him.

“The DP told us not long ago that his votes cannot be stolen. That even if Raila makes his brother Oburu Oginga the chair of the IEBC, he would still go ahead and win.

Raila has not done that. Oburu Oginga is going for senator Siaya. Now the question I want to ask is what is Ruto telling us,?” he posed

During the Gusii trip, Raila who received dozens of defectors said if elected as the country’s fifth president he will inspire an economic revolution.

He assured the Kisii community once in power he would address the problems which are currently facing  the tea and coffee sectors  due to poor payment .

“Kisii is an agricultural potential area. We could add value addition to all the produces which finally could fetch highly prices in the world market, “ he added .

Set up university

He assured the people of Nyamira county that once in office, he will ensure the county has a university of its own.

The ODM assured that as the next president of Kenya, all children from nursery to university could get access to education.

In the health sector, he said an insurance scheme could be created which cater for Kenyans once they are sick.

“Single parent mothers could have a fund which could be used to boost them economically,” he added .

Raila said that the poor and less privileged in the society could be given Sh6,000 so as to empower them economically.

During the trip Borabu MP Ben Momanyi, elected on a Wiper ticket ditched it for ODM. Momanyi who is the legal advisor  of Wiper Party went against his party boss by  also  supporting Raila Odinga’s bid for presidency.

With the defection of Momanyi who is serving his second term, he will now  battle it out with the ODM national treasurer Timothy Bosire  for the party ticket for the Nyamira governorship seat .

Raila pledged to set aside land for housing projects to create enough space for agricultural land to enhance food security.

The former premier said the increasing population was putting pressure on agricultural land, stressing if elected, he would ensure residents live at modern  houses in designated areas in gated communities.

The former prime minister said once the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) is passed, more funds will be channeled to counties to boost development in the devolved functions, stressing the national government will audit the funds to ensure they benefit residents.

“The national government will fight graft and will not allow it to be devolved to the counties. Health is devolved but a lot of funds remain in Nairobi, which weakens the counties,”  said the former premier.

He said the Gusii and Luo communities have common cultural values, stressing, his father, Jaramogi Oginga  brought him to Gusii in 1953 and has many friends in the community.