Some leaders in Nyanza have urged residents to shun leaders who blame President William Ruto over Raila Odinga’s failure to clinch the African Union chairmanship post.
Led by Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo and Suba South MP Caroli Omondi, the leaders said President Ruto did his best to support Raila for the top continental job.
Wandayi said Ruto demonstrated true friendship with Raila before and during the election held last Saturday in Addis Ababa.
“President Ruto demonstrated the traits of a good leader and true friend in supporting Raila campaigns. Those who blame the President shouldn’t be listened to,” Wandayi said.
There were chants of ‘Ruto must go’ in parts of Kisumu immediately news trickled in that Raila had lost to Mohamoud Ali of Djibouti.
Analysts have also claimed that Ruto’s actions in the weeks preceding the election could have worked against Raila’s candidature.
Speaking on Monday at Siburi Secondary School when they commissioned a girls’ dormitory constructed by the Kenya Pipeline Company Foundation, Wandayi argued that some leaders in the country did not want Raila to succeed.
“President Ruto worked tirelessly even though the results came the way we did not expect. But we know that there are some people who did not mean well for us,” he said.
Omollo urged residents to be wary of leaders who want to capitalise on the AUC election outcome to divide Kenyans. He said nobody should blame Ruto.
“Ruto did his best in the AUC race. I urge Kenyans especially the people of Nyanza, to shun leaders who want to use the election to cause division,” Omollo said.
He urged Kenyans to be united and give leaders ample time to promote development.
“Let us give leaders time to serve the people through the implementation of development projects,” Omollo added.
The PS told Kenyans not to lose hope over the election outcome. He hailed Ruto for uniting Kenyans in supporting Raila’s AUC bid.
“I want to thank the President for uniting Kenyans in supporting Raila. Let us encourage our leader Raila to be confident in getting future opportunities,” Omondi said.
He urged Kenyans to continue being focused and united in seeking other opportunities locally and globally.
