Ruto's bid to win Raila Odinga's turf still on

President William Ruto has stepped up his efforts to conquer the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s Nyanza backyard, even as a few voices of caution demand elaborate terms of engagement anchored on development for the region.

This came to the fore as thousands of Nyanza residents convened in Rongo for the annual Piny Luo Festival, an event dominated by strong political undertones and symbolism pinned on the community’s rich cultural history. Ruto, who was the chief guest, took no chances on his quest to win more allies and ring fence a support base that has been loyal to Raila for several decades. He hopes to translate that unwavering support the region accorded the late Raila into his own as he plans he intensify his early re-election campaigns.

In his locker, the President unleashed a fresh bag of goodies, political promises, and claimed he is on a mission to rewrite historical injustices that marginalised the region.

And to demonstrate that he is part of the community, the President wore matching caps with ODM party leader Oburu Oginga. The design of the cap was made famous by Raila’s father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, and was one of the symbols of a united community. Additionally, he aped some of Raila’s famous political opening lines and dance style, a depiction of a president digging political plaudits from a restless political base seeking to fill the vacuum left by Raila.

“We are on a mission to correct historical injustices…development injustice that has been denied to this region. We agreed that we must correct it,” he said, adding that they have a budget for correcting historical injustices.

But as he spoke, the few leaders who spoke, claimed they must have clear terms of engagement in future. The speeches appeared pre-planned from the president’s other allies, with Raila’s spouse Ida Odinga, starting her speech by claiming she had been asked to talk about the youth.

Siaya Governor James Orengo said the community has been duped in the past and should be certain with their terms of agreement. “People from this community like speaking the truth. We must have terms and conditions. We have been played for a long time, and we do not want to be played again,” said Orengo.

Migori Senator Eddie Oketch also highlighted the need for the community to craft terms based on economic development. “There is something that the Luo people call terms. These are terms that we must give to you. I can assure you that going to 2027, we cannot talk about terms that is not economic empowerment of our people. The terms we want to hear as a community is the terms of roads, bringing opportunities to university students and bringing electricity to our people,” he said.

President Ruto, however, claimed his mission to transform the region is on course as he promised new projects and completion of those that are still ongoing.

Backed by a choir of allies rallying for another stint for him in power beyond 2027, the president urged leaders from the region to strengthen ODM as he also fortifies his own UDA fold for an intertwined political future, as he also made references to the goal he reportedly had with Raila about transforming the country.

In Migori, the president said that his administration is building 10 roads at a cost of Sh1.7 billion as he also fast-tracks the completion of the stadium at a cost of Sh900 million.

The president also directed Treasury CS John Mbadi to allocate Sh50 million towards construction of a cultural site at the UNESCO heritage site Thim Lich Ohinga.

According to the president, his administration has allocated a budget of nearly Sh45 billion to try and correct the historical injustices of development that the region has faced in the past, “As part of correcting historical injustices, we are building pier of Sh500 million in Muhuru Bay,” he said. He also waded into the struggling sugar industry that has been riddled with several controversies over privatisation. “We had a problem with Sony Sugar. Today, however, the factory is paying farmers every ten days,” he said.

Oburu threw his weight behind Ruto’s administration and praised him for granting them slots in his cabinet. “I am sure that when we form the next government, we are going to get more and more positions in government because we shall have formed it together,” he said.

He urged Nyanza residents to register as voters ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga claimed they are pursuing an initiative to register 1.5 million new voters from the region.

“When we talk about Singapore, we are saying that we will be at the front part of the train of Kenya that will become Singapore as we move forward, because we know it will bring jobs to our young people. Our people love the ODM party,” she said.

Later, President Ruto laid the foundation stone for student hostels at Rongo University, which will benefit more than 2,000 students. He said the government will build more hostels to accommodate 7,200 college students in the county.