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The two day tour of embattled Deputy President William Ruto in Kwale county was of no consequence as he failed to articulate on issues affecting the area residents.
Local ODM officials led by Kwale County Woman Representative Zuleikha Hassan said the entire Kwale county is a stronghold of ODM party led by Raila Odinga arguing that Ruto’s visit in the area was a waste of time after failing to address the perennial land disputes in the county.
They said the area residents are living in panic over the Dongo Kundu project with threats to evict them from their land from the Jubilee government.
They pointed out that last year the government demolished structures along the Likoni and Lunga Lunga road to pave way for the expansion of the road but up to now no compensation has been made to those affected.
The local party officials urged Ruto to check his facts whether he is able to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta during the forthcoming general elections.
Zuleikha insisted Ruto’s chances to win the 2022 polls are very slim saying she sympathizes with his bid to succeed Uhuru.
“We have facts on the ground that Ruto won’t beat Raila in the next polls and we therefore urge the hustler to bow out of the race and instead rally behind Raila’s quest,” she pointed out.
She spoke at Kombani playing ground in Matuga constituency, Kwale county where the DP had held his political rally.
The Kwale County Woman Representative reminded Ruto that Raila led with overwhelming votes in the county during the last general elections compared to other candidates.
Zuleikha who was accompanied by party aspirants scoffed at Ruto’s speech which she said never touched on issues affecting area residents.
She pointed out the county residents are more loyal to the former Prime Minister than local elected leaders due to his political stand.
“The loyalty of county residents is unchangeable during the coming polls,” she insisted.
The Kwale CountyWoman Representative cautioned Ruto to stop taking the county residents for granted and cheap that they can be bought.
Zuleikha defended Raila’s track record and his political stand with his vision for local residents in the area.
She said they expected when Ruto rose to speak he would mention the pending compensation of those whose land was taken but he never mentioned it at all.
“It seems the issue does not bother him yet he is seeking votes from the affected residents,” she said.
Lunga Lunga ODM grassroots chairperson Joseph Chiwaya scoffed at the reception which Ruto received from ODM moles.
He cautioned the DP to stop planting seed in farms he does not own citing Kinango lawmaker Benjamin Dalu Tayari who is officially still in ODM as he has not officially defected to the wheel barrow camp.
“We have decided to remain in ODM and our loyalty to Raila is intact,” he insisted.
