Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto has responded to the political narrative that indicated he had withdrawn from the National Super Alliance (NASA) due to a difference in philosophy.
He also countered claims that he had been missing NASA events due to pressure from his rival for the governorship, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso.
Governor Ruto, however, stated that he has been focussed on "clearing" Jubilee from his South Rift backyard dispelling rumours that indicated otherwise.
He further indicated that his fellow principals were fully aware of his strategy and he had their blessing to skip the major rallies that have been held in the coalition's perceived strongholds.
"I have been absent from a number of rallies with the full knowledge of the other four co-principals in the coalition as I have to concentrate in coordinating and campaigning for NASA in Rift Valley," Mr Ruto explained.
He added that it was unnecessary for him to attend rallies in the coalition's bedrock regions, adding that securing votes for NASA in the vote-rich Rift Valley region was what the coalition needed from him.
The Governor has been involved in various campaign meetings in Bomet, Narok, Kericho and Nakuru, drumming up support for NASA along with his party's Deputy party leader Patrick Ntutu.
Ruto also hit out at Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leaders in Narok including Narok North MP Moitalel Kenta and Governor aspirant JosephTiampati who have been asking him to keep out of Narok politics. He called on the two to realise that his Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM) Party is an equal player in the NASA coalition.
