Sources say that the governor may have dumped Raila Odinga for William Ruto out of self-interest since he is currently facing a court case after the High Court dismissed his bid to stop his imminent arrest over his academic papers. Justice Reuben Nyakundi rejected the governor’s application for anticipatory bail pending the hearing and determination of the suit, where he is challenging the decision by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to arrest and charge him over allegations holding a “fake degree”
The chaotic scenes that rocked the arrival of Azimio leaders to the Turkana Cultural Event last week seem to have been well planned and executed, but the big question is: who plotted the attacks and for what reasons? Analysts say Raila’s decision to attend the event was a counter-plan against Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai, who had earlier announced that he had jumped ship from ODM to work with President William Ruto and Kenya Kwanza.
Raila Odinga, being a political genius that we all know, hurriedly reached out to his men on the ground to arrange for the visit to defuse the impression created by the governor that Turkana people have deserted the opposition, sources told The Weekly Vision.
Sources say that the governor may have dumped Raila Odinga for William Ruto out of self-interest. He is currently facing a court case after the High Court dismissed his bid to stop his imminent arrest over the forgery of his academic papers. Justice Reuben Nyakundi rejected the governor’s application for anticipatory bail pending the hearing and determination of the suit, where he is challenging the decision by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to arrest him over allegations of a “fake degree”. According to the anti-graft agency, it was established that both the governor’s degree and diploma certificates were fake, thus rendering him liable for criminal prosecution.
A source told us the governor plotted the whole mess, as he knew Mr Odinga would punish him politically if the event continued to conclude undisrupted. First, analysts say the governor was aware that Raila Odinga enjoys overwhelming support in the region and that his presence would cut him to size politically after his announcement that he was now working closely with the Kenya Kwanza administration. Statistically speaking, Raila Odinga enjoys overwhelming support in Turkana, if the results of last year’s elections are anything to go by. In the presidential race, Raila Odinga garnered 95,620 votes, which translates to 66%, while William Ruto got 46,510 votes (32%). It is imperative to note that the region has over the years voted for Raila, and there was a fear that his visit was going to deconstruct President Ruto’s earlier visit.
To show just how the region has remained faithful to Raila, in the gubernatorial race, Mr Lomorukai won the seat on the ODM ticket after garnering 66,631 votes (46%) over UDA candidate John Lodepe, who gathered 41,866 votes (29%). The Jubilee Party candidate, John Munyes, garnered 33,639 votes. However, it has been speculated that Raila himself imposed Mr Lomorukai on the Turkana people who had wanted Munyes to be governor. There were speculations then that Lomorukai had forged degree certificates, but Raila stood with him. Raila had, however, campaigned against Munyes, who was said to be the voters’ choice.
According to sources well versed in Turkana politics, had Raila withdrawn the candidature of Lomorukai to support Munyes, who was a Jubilee candidate, it could have affected his popularity in Turkana politics. Sources say some people were not happy with how Raila was welcomed upon arrival by the public, who forced him to address a roadside rally before reaching the main venue. Following the defection of Governor Lomorukai, Raila had to move with speed to fill the vacuum, and that was only possible through the visit, which was eventually aborted.
Sources say President Ruto and Kenya Kwanza tried all means at their disposal to ensure the region joined the Kenya Kwanza bandwagon. During the weekly demonstrations called by Azimio, Turkana County voters surprised many when they came out in large numbers and held demos. President Ruto and his allies could not believe their eyes when the people of Turkana came out in large numbers for the demonstration against his administration.
Politically speaking, Ruto and Raila are fighting over the control of Turkana politics ahead of the 2027 elections. Whereas Ruto is trying to make political inroads in a county that has been voting with the opposition since the introduction of multi-party politics, Raila is trying to ensure Turkana County remains under lock and key and to ensure he remains the region’s most preferred presidential candidate.
