Otuoma, Jirongo, Akaranga Declare Support for President Uhuru in Repeat Election
President Uhuru Kenyatta's October 17th Presidential bid has received a boost after more leaders drawn from Western Kenya threw their weight behind his re-election.
In meeting held at State House Nairobi, on Tuesday, several politicians who were hitherto in Nasa defected to the Jubilee Party and declared their support for Uhuru in the repeat poll.
Former Vihiga governor Moses Akaranga and Bungoma Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) gubernatorial candidate Alfred Khangati said they will be backing the President, as he face Nasa's Raila Odinga in the fresh election ordered by the apex court.
Former presidential candidate Cyrus Jirongo, as was former Cabinet minister Chris Okemo, who clinched the Nambale parliamentary seat on a Labour Party of Kenya ticket also threw their weight behind Uhuru.
“Everybody who matters in the Mulembe nation was at State House today. We are telling Raila that the donkey is tired of being in the Opposition, we will all go out there and campaign for President Kenyatta to secure majority votes in the our Luhya counties of Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia and Vihiga,” Khang'ati said.
Nairobi businessman Babetuu Amutavi who unsuccessfully contested the Shinyalu MP seat said the leaders had agreed to campaign aggressively for President Kenyatta’s re-election in the region that is widely an opposition stronghold.
“We will start President Uhuru’s campaigns in western on Thursday, it is all systems go, we will leave nothing to chance,” Amutavi said.
Former Cabinet ministers Fred Gumo and Musikari Kombo, and former National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende were also present in the meeting.
The delegation of western Kenya leaders was led by Water Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa and Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka.
President Uhuru Kenyatta welcomed the support from the western leaders, saying it indicated Jubilee’s popularity across the country.
Busia County independent governor contender Paul Otuoma also pledged to support President Uhuru Kenyatta’s re-election bid set for next month.
Declaring his support for Uhuru, Otuoma accused ODM and NASA leader Raila Odinga of favoritism in the party and alliance.