Why DP Ruto rejected invitation by leaders to visit Wajir later this month

Wajir governor Mohamed Abdi with the Deputy President William Ruto at his Karen residence when he led Wajir leaders in meeting with the DP. (Courtesy)

NAIROBI—The Deputy President has turned down an invite by Wajir County Jubilee leaders to hold rally in Wajir town later this month. The leaders urgued that move would strengthen the party’s presence in region.

In a meeting that lasted less than half an hour at his Karen residence, William Ruto rejected the offer, saying the party “was not in good shape lately” and asked the leaders, both elected and nominated to push back the date of his visit on a later day.

Led by Wajir County governor Mohamed Abdi,  Ruto challenged the leaders to put their house in order, saying the senator, Abdullahi Ali and Women Representative Fatuma Gedi were missing despite being party members. Fatuma vied on a PDR ticket, a Jubilee affiliated party.

“He (Ruto) also asked any major project he would launch on his visit. The governor went mute. He looked at Wajir East MP (Rashid Kassim). Rashid said there was none,” former ODM MP who, ahead of the August elections, decameped to Jubilee told Kulan Post in confidence.

On his social media pages, the governor said he talked to the Deputy President about partnership on development programs.

“The national government pledged to upgrade Wajir Referral hospital to Level 5 Hospital, improve sanitation in Wajir town and construction of a revamped road network including the construction of the Garissa-Modogashe-Samatar-Kutolo road that will open up the region.

Other key components of our agenda included attaining equitable development and shared prosperity between Wajir County government and National Government,“ governor Mohamed Abdi wrote on his Facebook page.

The invitation came at a time when William Ruto is dealing with disquiet at the Jubilee party over his 2022 succession politics.

Although Ruto publicly acknowledged that the party was united, his pointmen say renewed war on corruption is aimed at people from his backyard.

Sunday Nation columnist Machadia Gaitho speculated on his column that the ‘UhuRuto bromance was over” since the March handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Premier Raila Odinga.