Ruto implores Governor Simba Arati to ditch Raila’s ODM party
By Wycliffe Nyamasege, August 25, 2023
President William Ruto on Friday, August 25 implored Kisii Governor Simba Arati to join the Kenya Kwanza administration and help him push the government’s development agenda.
Ruto, a former member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, urged the county boss to ditch the opposition outfit and follow him to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), on whose ticket he was elected president in last year’s general election.
This is after Arati pledged to work with the Kenya Kwanza government to serve Kisii residents despite being a member of the opposition.
“Unajua Simba amesema nilikuwa mtu wa ODM na ni ukweli. Sasa kwa sababu mimi nilikuwa mtu wa ODM sasa wewe vile nilihama si ata wewe uhame tuendelee pamoja?”
Loosely translated, “You know Simba has said that I was a member of ODM and it is true. Now that I left [ODM] come join me and we work together.”
The Head of State was speaking during the inspection of Omoringamu-Nyansara roads in Nyamasege, Kisii County.
Ruto attributed his political success to his decision to ditch the Raila Odinga-led party and advised the governor to follow suit.
“Unaona vile nilihama nimejipanga. Wewe huwezi jua. Ukifuatana na mimi hapo mbele unaweza…” he added.
At the same time, President Ruto urged the governor to talk to his colleagues in ODM to stop their threats regarding street protests.
“Waambie wale wananifanyia maandamano wawache maandamano. Waambie yule jamaa ako pale ni mtu wetu (Tell those planning street protests to stop. Tell them I’m one of their own),” he added.
Ruto ditched ODM ahead of the 2013 polls and joined the United Democratic Republican Party (URP).
The party subsequently joined the Jubilee Alliance, which nominated Ruto and retired President Uhuru Kenyatta for the presidency.
President Ruto is in the Gusii region for a one-day tour.
He is scheduled to commission the Sironga affordable housing in West Mugirango constituency as well as the construction of a stalled market in Borabu constituency on Friday afternoon.