President Uhuru Kenyatta has warned Bungoma County residents over the latest opinion polls that indicate that the county will be a swing vote in the August 9 polls.
Speaking on Tuesday, August 2, during the inspection of the rehabilitation of the Nzoia Sugar Company, Uhuru told the residents that they risked being left out of government.
He told locals that supporting his deputy, William Ruto, was akin to playing with fire and that only Azimio flag-bearer Raila Odinga would save them.
"My people in Bungoma, do not play with fire, you have already done that and got burned. Do you want to go back to the fire or to be saved? If so, the only way to get saved is Raila," he reiterated.
The Head of State told them not to fall for the sweet nothing by Kenya Kwanza principals Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula, whom he claimed had nothing to show despite being in government for decades.
"This factory would have been producing 20 times as much as it is today if leaders really cared about sugar cane farmers and the people of Bungoma.
"Some of them have been Cabinet Ministers since retired President Moi's term in power, have any improvements been done to this company? And do you expect them to do anything now?" Uhuru posed.
Bungoma County has become a headache for Raila Odinga's Azimio camp in the Western region owing to the influence of FORD Kenya party which has dominated the county politics for decades.
Ken Lusaka, who was the pioneer county governor was elected on a Ford Kenya party ticket in 2013 before being ousted by Wycliffe Wangamati who ran on the same ticket in 2017.
In a poll released by Infotrak, Raila led in Bungoma with 46 per cent popularity and was closely followed by the DP at 44 percentage points.
According to the data from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Bungoma County has a total of 635,146 votes.
Bungoma County has nine constituencies: Mt Elgon, Sirisia, Kabuchai, Bumula, Kanduyi, Webuye East, Webuye West, Kimilili and Tongaren.
A split in the votes cast would dent Raila's bid to secure the threshold - 50 per cent plus one votes - to be declared the winner of the election in first round.
While Raila has enjoyed favourable support in Western Kenya, Ruto has been burning midnight oil to wrestle the vote-rich region from his political opponent.
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