Kakamega County Deputy Governor-elect Ayub Savula made sensational claims that he was forced to support the Azimio la Umoja coalition party.
Speaking on Saturday, September 10, at a funeral in Lumakanda Savula affirmed that while he whole-heartedly supported president-elect William Ruto, he had to shift allegiance to Raila Odinga after he was threatened with prosecution over graft.
He attested his hands were tied after his family was roped into the fracas including arrests by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
"I was coerced to support Azimio and that is the truth. I decided to persevere because when they arrest me and my wives, who will pay the bail," Savula stated.
The former Lugari Member of Parliament asked Ruto, not to disdain leaders who did not support him. He added that he was willing to work with the incoming government for the sake of the people of Kakamega County.
In addition, he clarified that he had made his stance known to Raila, whom he asked to make himself available to nurture youthful leaders elected in the August 9 General election.
"I will work with the president so that the country can move on. I have spoken to my boss who is now in Zanzibar and told him to take a back seat, and advise us because the leadership is now in the hands of the youth," he stated.
Meanwhile, immediate former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya rebuked Azimio elected leaders who have been decamping to Kenya Kwanza.
"This is very unfortunate and if they are being enticed to move, then it is an election fraud because you cannot be talking about Azimio barely a week ago then move to Kenya Kwanza because you want favours. Those are cheap leaders," Oparanya added.
The ODM Deputy Party Leader warned Ruto against trying to convert the country into a one-party state by weakening the opposition. He reckoned that the opposition should not only be respected but properly funded to perform its watchdog role.
Savula joined Azimio in December 2021 during the Bukhungu Stadium declaration. The then Amani National Congress Deputy Party leader noted that he had ditched the One Kenya Alliance, which was dissolved into the coalition party.
"We have two men, Ruto in Raila. I have not defected from ANC, but I have officially decamped to Azimio la Umoja, I denounce my membership from OKA," he explained.
