Why this Jubilee Senator is furious with DP Ruto
Deputy President William Ruto came under scathing attack from Jubilee nominated Senator Joy Gwendo after the DP skipped a fundraiser in Kisumu where he had been invited as the chief guest.
There was heavy presence of police officers at Chiga Catholic church and a red carpet which had been prepared for the DP rolled as information reached that he would not attend the function.
The carpet was rolled back after Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett, who represented the DP at the fundraiser for cotton farmers and Kisumu East women groups arrived.
Speaking during the ceremony, a visibly furious senator who organized the harambee, did not mince her words when she publicly expressed her disappointment with Mr Ruto.
“I want to send the CS to pass a message to our Deputy President. Media please turn your cameras to show the multitude of people who came here to welcome the DP. They are disappointed. Bwana Waziri I will tell you without fear or favour we are disappointed,” Ms Gwendo said.
TELL THE DP
She continued: “We welcome you but we have things that we wanted to whisper on the ears of our DP. We need you to tell our deputy president that we hope he did not skip this event because he fears coming to us.”
Ms Gwendo said: “We are tired of hunger. That is why we left our homes to come here to welcome him. Waziri go back and tell our Deputy President that we will take his message (Sh 1 million harambee cash). The envelope he has sent you with we shall take. Because in our language we say jaote okgo lero (The messenger shall not be beaten.)”
“But we are disappointed and we shall not hide it. Let him not fear coming to see us the people of Kisumu East. I stay here and walk here freely and nothing has ever happened to me. All I want for the people here is change and development. Tell him you saw farmers, women, children and we were ready to welcome him,” added the senator.
VOTE INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
The function was attended by nominated senator Mvita Mshenga, Karachuonyo MP James Rege, former Rarieda MP Raphael Tuju and directors George Ayugi and Steve Mwanga.
Ms Mshenga told the residents to vote in good individual leaders without considering which political parties they belong to.
Mr Rege reiterated that he would defend his Karachuonyo seat in 2017 on a Jubilee Party ticket.
Mr Tuju underscored the need to vote in development minded leaders regardless of their political parties.
“We need economic empowerment and this can only be achieved through election of leaders who have that at heart,” the former cabinet minister said.
DEFENDED DP
Mr Bett and Mr Ayugi, however, defended the DP arguing that he was engaged elsewhere. “The DP does not fear coming here. Only that he was engaged in other functions,” he said.
The CS underscored the need for farmers in Nyanza region to grow cotton to ensure revival of Kikomi industry.
“The company can only be revived if there is enough cotton grown in this area. Once it is revived, it will create employment to many unemployed youth,” said Mr Bett.
Mr Ayugi there was no cause for alarm as the DP would visit the region “soon”.
Ms Gwendo, however, did not lack kind words for the DP when she said the Luo community should pay his political debt by supporting the government.
“We the members of the Luo community owe the DP politically and we must pay him in the coming elections by supporting Jubilee,” Ms Gwendo said in reference to Mr Ruto’s support of ODM leader Raila Odinga in 2007.
She pointed out that Nyanza must work with Jubilee government for economic empowerment.
