Opposition Chief Raila Odinga has signalled a political ceasefire with President William Ruto as the Head of State tours his Luo Nyanza backyard.
The Azimio La Umoja One Kenya leader had on Wednesday night held a meeting with his troops from his base and rallied them to welcome Ruto on Friday.
In the meeting with politicians from Luo Nyanza in Nairobi, Raila advised them to embrace the Head of State during his visit for the sake of development.
“It was agreed that we travel and welcome the President,” said Rangwe MP Lilian Gogo who attended the Wednesday meeting hosted by Raila.
Former Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya, who is also the ODM deputy Party leader did not attend the meeting but confirmed that it resolved to have leaders travel to welcome the President.
“The party leader met leaders from the counties which the president will be visiting today(Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday) and gave them express permission to host him on his development tour of the area,” Oparanya said.
The meeting came days after Raila declared that Azimio governors were free to work with the government and should not be perceived as having defected from the opposition coalition.
Azimio governors Abdulswamad Nassir (Mombasa), Fernandes Barasa (Kakamega) and Simba Arati(Kisii) are some of the county chiefs who have held separate meetings with President Ruto.
'The relationship between the county and national government is in the Constitution. The two are distinct but must cooperate and work together. That is why governors must work with the national government,” Raila said.
“It does not mean they have defected to UDA or the Kenya Kwanza coalition. The governors have to work with the national government because it is in the Constitution.”
Bondo MP Gideon Ochanda said local leaders have been advised by the Azimio leadership not to shy away from the President's 'official visits'.
The President is on Friday beginning a two-day visit to Homa Bay, Siaya and Kisumu counties to launch various development projects.
However, although the trip is couched as a development tour, it is loaded with heavy political symbolism and undertones at a time when there are signals of a political truce between Raila and Ruto.
The trip also comes days after United Kingdom Ambassador to Kenya Jane Marriott held talks with Raila in what was seen as part of a diplomatic charm offensive to stabilise the country's political climate.
Raila had after the August general elections accused foreign envoys and particularly singled out the UK ambassador for allegedly remaining silent over what he had termed as theft of his 'victory'.
Ruto and Raila were fierce opponents in the August Presidential contest in which the President narrowly won, triggering hostility from the Azimio supporters.