Inside Raila Plan to Counter Ruto's 30 Per Cent Deal With Western Leaders

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga during the launch of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party manifesto at Nyayo Stadium on June 6, 2022.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga during the launch of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party manifesto at Nyayo Stadium on June 6, 2022.
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Sabina Chege

Azimio One Kenya presidential candidate, Raila Amollo Odinga, has moved to neutralise Deputy President William Ruto's influence in the vast Western Kenya region.

According to reports, Raila has promised the vote-rich region a total of four Cabinet slots, an additional three after proposing outgoing Kakamega governor, Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya, the National Treasury CS job. He has also offered the region the Leader of Majority post in the National Assembly.

The positions will be shared within the five counties that form the Western region.

On top of that, the former Prime Minister has also offered the region seven Principal Secretaries, five Chief Administrative Secretaries, 12 ambassadors, and 10 parastatal board chairpersons should the Azimio coalition win the August 9 elections.

Undated Image of ODM leader Raila Odinga (right), FormerKakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and secretary-general Edwin Sifuna
Undated Image of ODM leader Raila Odinga (right), Former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and secretary-general Edwin Sifuna
Edwin Sifuna

Besides this, Raila already announced that former National Assembly speaker, Kenneth Marende, will take up the the position of Speaker of the Senate.

While on a campaign trail in the region, Raila hinted that Eugene Wamalwa would retain his Defence Cabinet Secretary post in a move aimed at galvanising the region which commands over two million votes.

Other than positions, the former Premier also pledged to initiate major infrastructural projects in the five counties of Busia, Kakamega, Bungoma, Vihiga, and Trans Nzoia in an attempt to neutralise Ruto’s deal with Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi and Ford-Kenya’s Moses Wetang’ula.

The agreement also allowed some parties in Azimio such as Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and Democratic Alliance Party of Kenya (DAP-K) to withdraw candidates in perceived strongholds.

For instance, the deal compelled ODM to withdraw its gubernatorial aspirants in Bungoma and Trans Nzoia in favour of DAP-K’s Wycliffe Wangamati and George Natembeya, respectively.

The same happened in Kakamega where DAP-K compelled Lugari Member of Parliament, Ayub Savula, to drop his gubernatorial bid in favour of ODM’s Fernandez Barasa.

"Given the importance of fielding candidates that stand a high chance of winning in their respective seats, parties have evaluated their respective candidates, consulted, negotiated and agreed to complement each other by fielding the strongest candidates from either of the coalition partners and supporting each other’s candidates," the agreement read in part.

Ruto promised to give 30 per cent of his government to the region if he clinches the August 9 polls. The deal was meant to woo Mudavadi and Wetangula to Ruto's Kenya Kwanza faction.

The duo were tasked with delivering 70 per cent of the Western region vote.

ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi speaking at a rally in Vihiga county on Wednesday June 8,2022
ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi speaking at a rally in Vihiga county on Wednesday, June 8, 2022.
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