During the ODM party’s recruitment rally in Busia town, Dr. Otuoma was met with severe heckling from a section of the voters due to his perceived opposition to Azimio’s call for demonstrations against the high cost of living under President Ruto and his Kenya Kwanza administration. Voters in Busia were deeply upset by Dr Otuoma’s choice to support the government at the time, with some demanding that the governor should have been reprimanded by the party
By The Weekly Vision Team
A section of residents in Busia County were surprised when an announcement came out that ODM leader Raila Odinga was holding a meeting with Governor Paul Otuoma. Negative comments started emerging from some ODM leaders when they learned of the meeting between the two at Mr Odinga’s residence in Karen.
Some of the party leaders even questioned the rationale behind their party leader’s decision to meet Dr. Otuoma, while others asked who had facilitated the meeting. One top party leader from Western Kenya was overheard asking why his boss was meeting a man who had betrayed him. Some people believe that the governor has displayed political disrespect in the past towards his party and its leader, Raila Odinga, by preferring to work closely with President William Ruto.
During the ODM party’s recruitment rally in Busia town, Dr. Otuoma was met with severe heckling from a section of the voters due to his perceived opposition to Azimio’s call for demonstrations against the high cost of living under President Ruto and his Kenya Kwanza administration. Voters in Busia were deeply upset by Dr Otuoma’s choice to support the government at the time, with some demanding that the governor should have been reprimanded by the party. Dr Otuoma quickly traveled to Nairobi for a meeting with the president at the state house, just four hours after the Busia incident, when the governor openly sided with the government; he even criticized Mr Raila Odinga and other Azimio leaders.
The governor is said to have reached out to Mr Odinga to inaugurate his projects in Busia and at the same time help the governor mend fences with the voters in the county. Mr. Odinga has accepted the invitation from the governor, a move that may potentially help improve the governor’s standing among his people.
Speculation is rife in Busia that the governor has realized that Mr Odinga still enjoys massive support among the people in the county and that for him to sustain any political relevance in light of the upcoming party elections, he must exhibit loyalty to Odinga and the party. Analysts have also suggested that for Dr Otuoma to retain his seat in 2027, he had to toe the party line and drop his opposition to the ODM party.
Sources on the ground in Busia told The Weekly Vision recently that Senator Okiya Omtata is also causing Dr. Otuoma considerable distress. The senator is reportedly considering running for the gubernatorial position in 2027.
