Migori Governor Okoth Obado has indicated he might team up with Deputy President William Ruto ahead of the 2022 General Election.
Obado was first elected governor on the People's Democratic Party ticket in 2013 after he ditched ODM in the run-up to the polls.
He however returned to the Orange Democratic Movement on whose ticket he defended his seat in 2017.
Obado has however differed with the ODM luminaries and has since decamped to PDP on whose ticket he says he will seek the presidency next year.
Obado has previously denied any political link with Ruto, saying his ditching of the orange party was meant to enhance the democratic space in Nyanza region.
Politicians close to ODM leader Raila Odinga say the governor’s move was sponsored by Ruto in a scheme to derail the former Prime Minister's ambition to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta.
On Sunday at Kamagambo Adventist College, Obado defended Ruto saying the DP has been targeted by “a lot of malice and propaganda" for his bottom-up economic model.
Ruto has been advocating for a change of the economic model, saying the bottom-up approach will create more jobs and increase tax revenues.
“The bottom-up model, those who have read some economics will agree, is a multiplier effect. Like if you have Sh1,000 and give it to an individual it will only benefit one person compared to a group which will create jobs,” Obado said.
He was supported by South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro who urged Nyanza leaders to emulate the Migori governor and accept diverse ideas of economic empowerment instead of insulting those preaching the bottom-up approach.
“We need our rivals to give us alternative economic models instead of trivialising what others have proposed. Kenyans need a development model where money is invested in villages,” Osoro said.
Obado is being seen as Ruto’s point man in South Nyanza region. His ditching of ODM for PDP has been seen as a plot to cut down Raila's political influence in the rtegion.
Obado has denied those allegations.
The governor was conspicuously missing during the burial of Mzee Ajwang’ Nyakwamba in Mbita in neighbouring Homa Bay county on August 13.
Mzee Ajwang' was the father of Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’ and Ruaraka MP Tom Kajwang’. The burial was attended by Raila Odinga and governors from the lake region including Kakamega's Wycliffe Oparanya.
Speakers led by ODM chairman John Mbadi and Migori Senator Ochillo Ayacko said Obado's move to PDP was sponsored by Ruto.
“We know there is somebody who wants to be treated as a demigod in Migori. We know they are traitors who are being used to derail the region and community agenda,” Mbadi said.
Ayacko said the bottom-up approach as an economic model is not viable as already there is devolution and NG-CDF kitties, apart from several government projects initiated at the grassroots.
Edited by P.O
