Raila goes global as Ruto sets up shop on his turf

It is is now official: There is no turning back for Raila Odinga who must shift his focus entirely to his bid for the chairperson of the African Union Commission over the next five months and step away from local politics.

But before he departs, President William Ruto will today kick-start the push to inherit Raila's constituency, which the ODM founder has held in a stranglehold for 19 years.

Following yesterday consummation of what could be Kenya's biggest political marriage whose reception was held at State House and attended by three presidents, one prime minster and two former heads of state, the cake-eating ceremony now shifts to Nyanza.

Here, President Ruto is expected to camp for four days barely 36 hours after he attended the homecoming of former ODM party leader Wycliffe Oparanya.

Already, word on the street is that ODM and United Democratic Alliance could merge to form a formidable alliance ahead of 2027 General Election.

Yesterday, Ruto launched his biggest political project-Raila's campaign-as a curtain-raiser for the Nyanza tour to launch development projects as he works towards winning the hearts and minds of the people of a constituency that has been violently opposed to his politics in the past decade.

The launch of Raila's candidature was also a climax of the talks between the opposition chief and the President which were held in Mombasa early last year and facilitated by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo who was present at State House yesterday.

While Raila will be away to woo African countries to vote for his bid to succeed Moussa Faki, the President has been left the key to Raila's bedroom where he will have unfettered political access.

And since Raila’s point-men in the Nyanza and Western regions are at the center of Ruto’s administration, they have been tasked to mobilise as the President makes inroads in Nyanza.

Ruto’s visit will start in Migori County where he is slated to visit and launch the Kegonga cluster water project and later inspect the Lower Kuja irrigation project. He will similarly launch the Ngere-Mapera road.

On Thursday, President Ruto will visit Homa Bay County to commission the Oyugis water project, before inspecting the Homa Bay fish market.

The President will then launch the Rusinga ring road before attending the thanksgiving ceremony of Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi.

On Friday, the Head of State will be in Siaya County where he will commission the Mageta Island solar project in Bondo and later to Alego Usonga where he will launch the Siaya economic stimulus programme market. He will also launch the Siaya rice mill project and later in the day attend the thanksgiving service of Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi in Ugunja.

On Saturday, the President will tour Kisumu County where he will commission Kisumu marine school within the port area and later proceed to Kisumu East constituency where he will visit the Lake Basin Development Authority rice mill at Kibos and later head to Lumumba affordable housing project and wind up with a visit to Nyakach constituency to launch the Nyabondo Trauma Centre.

Yesterday at State House, while the Azimio coalition brigade led by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka were conspicuously missing and instead chose to issue a presser supporting Raila’s candidature, the ODM family filled the State House seats where they clapped heartily when any visiting leader endorsed Raila’s bid.

They included Minority Leader Junet Mohamed and Minority Whip Millie Odhiambo as well as party deputy leaders Simba Arati and Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir.

jgachane@standardmedia.co.ke