Gusii abandons Raila, joins Matiang’i  State House bid

President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga have suffered a major political setback in the Gusii region after elected leaders from the area abandoned their political parties and joined former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i’s camp.

Matiang’i toured various market centres and towns in Nyamira and Kisii counties on Friday, where he declared his intention to vie for the presidency in the 2027 General Election.

The elected leaders who have ditched ODM and Raila to support Matiang’i include MPs Anthony Kibagendi (Kitutu Chache South), Obadiah Barongo (Bomachoge Borabu), Clive Gisairo (Kitutu Masaba), Patrick Osero (Borabu), Senators Richard Onyonka (Kisii), Okongo Omogeni (Nyamira), Kisii Governor Simba Arati, and over 30 ODM MCAs from the entire Gusii region.

North Mugirango MP Joash Nyamoko, the only legislator elected through the UDA party from Nyamira County, and UDA-nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba also led their supporters from the entire Gusii region in deserting President Ruto and his ruling party to join Matiang’i’s political camp.

Matiang’i bandwagon

Other legislators from the community elected through different political parties who have also joined the Matiang’i bandwagon are Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo (UPA), Bonchari MP Charles Onchoke (UPA), and Bobasi MP Innocent Obiri (Wiper).

The ODM and UDA lawmakers who accompanied Matiang’i during his meet-the-people tour said they decided to abandon the Ruto and Raila political groups because the two camps had ganged up to “molest” the Kisii community politically and economically.

“I can’t support a government which ignores the pride of the Kisii community when it comes to employment, appointments, and development,” Nyamoko, who was elected through the UDA party, told gatherings at Ekerenyo and Keroka market centres.

“As a community, we also want to have one of our own as the President of the Republic so that he can protect our interests both locally and nationally when it comes to the sharing of national resources,” he added.

The vocal Onyonka said the Kisii community was tired of supporting Raila and Ruto in attaining higher political offices only to be abandoned when it comes to sharing national resources.

“We are tired of being used as a ladder by Ruto and Raila to achieve their political ambitions, which is why we have decided to abandon them and support our own for the presidency in the next general elections,” Onyonka stated.

Kibagendi and Gisairo pleaded with members of the Abagusii community to unite and rally behind Matiang’i for the top seat, describing those who might oppose him as traitors and political enemies of the community.

Other leaders who have also joined Matiang’i’s political camp are Wiper Party vice chairman Victor Swanya, Nakuru Town West MP Samuel Arama (Jubilee), and former long-serving Cabinet Minister Sam Ongeri.

Swanya has asked his party leader Kalonzo Musyoka to shelve his presidential ambitions and support Matiang’i’s candidacy.

‘Uncertain future’

Meanwhile, three MPs from the Gusii community have cautioned members against being misled by certain leaders to abandon President William Ruto and his government in favour of the opposition, whose future and political destiny they described as uncertain.

Education CS Julius Ogamba, along with MPs Steve Mogaka (West Mugirango), Japheth Nyakundi (Kitutu Chache North), and Jerusha Momanyi (Nyamira Woman Rep), defended President Ruto’s leadership against critics and those undermining it.

Ogamba said that in the two and a half years President Ruto has been in power, significant development has been realized, contrary to what his political detractors were claiming. He urged members of the Kisii community and Kenyans to ignore such leaders.

Ogamba emphasised that removing a sitting president from power is not as easy as some imagine. “Let me tell you from my political experience that it is not easy to remove a sitting leader from office. I contested for the Kitutu Chache North constituency seat, which was held by former MP Jimmy Angwenyi, several times but could not win. What about the presidency that we’re discussing?” he said.

“I’m not against anyone from this community who wants to be the next President, but they should not use this as an excuse to incite and antagonise the Kisii people against the government which they had also served in the past,” he added.

“I want our people to remain in the government, support it, and respect it. That is the only way we can receive services and our rightful share from it, instead of criticizing it,” he continued.

Effective services

He was speaking in West Mugirango constituency in Nyamira County on Friday during the commissioning of NG-CDF projects.

West Mugirango MP Steve Mogaka, who hosted the event, distanced himself from Matiang’i’s politics, saying his current focus was to serve his constituents who gave him the mandate.

“I will be the last person to ask the Kisii community to abandon the Ruto government for another government that I don’t know,” Mogaka stated.

He added that his agenda was to work with any government in power for effective services to the people who elected him.

Momanyi, who has been a close ally of Matiang’i, asked members of the Kisii community not to be deceived into joining opposition politics, which she said was going nowhere.

She urged those with political differences with Ruto not to use the community’s name in settling their political scores.

Nyakundi said that while Matiang’i was within his constitutional rights to run for President, he should not use it to incite the community against the government.