UDA flagbearer William Ruto was on Sunday, July 31, forced to campaign on the roadside in Kakamega County after his team was denied entry into the historic Bukhungu Stadium.
Ruto, who was followed by his supporters as his convoy snaked through Kakamega town, headed to the stadium only to find it closed.
He accused his opponents of deliberately frustrating his campaigns in the region because they saw him as a threat but stated that his quest remained undeterred.
"I would like to thank you, my supporters, for turning up in large numbers. They closed the stadium thinking that they would shut us down but in eight days, we will teach them a lesson," Ruto stated.
The Deputy President claimed that the closure of the facility was an affirmation that Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga was threatened by his charm offensive in his backyard.
Ruto was accompanied by Kenya Kwanza principals Moses Wetangula and Musalia Mudavadi who hit out at Azimio and President Uhuru Kenyatta for using state power to undermine their bids.
Calling up Mumias MP Benjamin Washiali, Mudavadi noted that his encounter with the police was a manifestation of the true nature of the Raila and Uhuru, whose days were numbered.
"Allow me to apologise to my brother, Washiali. He was harassed just because he was standing for democracy. Those who do not want to be democratic, Uhuru will go to Gatundu and Raila will go to Bondo," he stated.
On his part, the Ford Kenya party leader accused outgoing governor Wycliffe Oparanya of being used to fight political wars - which he would eventually bear the brunt for.
"I want to tell Oparanya, only a man with small brains that makes enemies at the eleventh hour. They instructed you to close the stadium but a rally outside Bukhungu is akin to one inside it," Wetangula reiterated.
The leaders called on the Kakamega residents to turn up in large numbers to help them fight the Azimio brigade which they accused of oppressing them.
While in Vihiga, Mudavadi's backyard, Ruto joked with the crowd that the 75 per cent he initially asked for from the ANC leader was not enough. He stated that he needed at least 90 per cent of their vote.
