Deputy President William Ruto's home senator from Uasin Gishu, Margaret Kamar, on Thursday, January 27, officially joined Azimio la Umoja.
The Senator led other political heavyweights from the Rift Valley region to support Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga's presidential bid.
Kamar's delegation included former Cabinet Minister and powerful head of public service Sally Kosgey, former Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo and Gender CAS Linah Chebii Kilimo in supporting Raila.
The leaders were received by Raila and accompanied by Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui and former Internal Security Assistant Minister Stephen Tarus who is a vocal critic of the DP.
At the same time allies of Amani National Congress (ANC) Musalia Mudavadi who do not agree with his decision to join forces with DP Ruto were also received by Odinga at Chungwa house by Raila.
Odinga received the ANC defectors from Mudavadi’s political party majorly from Kakamega County.
DP Ruto has lost key allies who are looking to make an impact in the August polls. A silent campaign had been mounted by the former strongmen in former President Daniel Arap Moi's government to loosen the DP hold in Rift Valley.
In October, Tarus launched scathing attacks against the Deputy President accusing him of contributing to the Rift Valley region's woes.
Speaking during Raila Odinga's Azimio la Umoja Rift Valley tour, Tarus stated the people of Rift Valley had long been oppressed.
The former Assistant Minister, who served as Kenya's High Commissioner to Australia between 2009 and 2012 during former President Mwai Kibaki's government, accused DP Ruto of killing the region's economy.
"First of all, I would like to thank the right Honorable Prime Minister for finding this rare opportunity to meet the oppressed people of Rift Valley," he stated.
He maintained that DP Ruto has destroyed the region's economy by refusing to pay farmers and taking money from cereals.
"I am stating the oppressed people, without fear, without doubt, because when you kill a people's economy, you have only one interest, to oppress them. When you refuse to pay farmers and you take all the money from cereals, you have only one objective; to kill them," he asserted.
He further faulted the DP for selectively appointing people in government and destroying the careers of great men and women in the region.
"When you selectively appoint people in government and destroy careers of great men and women, and I have in mind people like Sally Kosgei who is supposed to be serving in government as at now," he stated.
He termed DP Ruto's party as one that attracts eaters expressing his confidence in Odinga's party as one that reforms.
