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Ugenya MP David Ochieng and a perceived deputy president William Ruto pointman in Luo Nyanza seems to be a marked man after he brutally attacked the BBI summit as a waste of time and taxpayers’ money.
The legislator’s harsh remarks against an initiative that enjoys full backing of Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga quickly rekindled political events in Ugenya’s by-election in which he was painted Ruto mole in the region, and still won.
A furious Ochieng while addressing his constituents at Sega market took issues with the backers of the BBI summits demanding an explanation of huge amounts of money channeled towards the programme at the expense of development, particularly in Nyanza region.
In what observers view as a direct affront and mockery of Raila’s role in the initiative, the MP who maneuvered his way to parliament courtesy of a little known Movement for Growth and Democracy party noted that constant calls to strengthen the prime minister’s position by Raila coattailers was cheapening the BBI debate.
Similarly DP Ruto has accused Raila of hijacking the BBI to revamp his political star in a well calculated political move to help him craft a lineup ahead of the 2022 general elections.
Ochieng said Nyanza leaders should not believe that the region can only attain development if someone from the community holds the president or PM position adding it was unfortunate that the region had only focused on referendum while other communities are using the BBI to vouch for development projects.
Notably the BBI process ignited an instant uproar with Ruto camp feeling that it is a plot aimed at stifling the DP’s presidential ambitions through introduction of PM position to cushion Uhuru’s fall, in a deal that is seen to be advancing for Raila as the fifth president of Kenya.
Ochieng a former aide turned foe of Siaya senator James Orengo was in 2013 elected in ODM ticket but rebelled against the party ahead of 2017 and opted to defend his seat on the newly formed MDG.
He later successfully challenged the election of ODM candidate Chris Karan’s 2017 win at the court citing electoral malpractices and later emerged victories in a hotly contested by-election dubbed as a race between Raila and Ruto.
It did not come as a surprise when the DP was among the first prominent figures to congratulate Ochieng and Wiper’s Julius Mawathe who retained his Embakasi South seat agaonst ODM onslaught.
Even though he tactfully avoided coming out openly to support Ochieng, a move that by all standards could have turned suicidal, Ruto’s name became a constant subject despite Jubilee party resolution not to field candidates in both Ugenya and Embakasi South.
Ruto is likely to rely on the youthful politicians from Nyanza who came together under the MDG in his bid to give Uhuru and Raila a good run for their money in handling BBI as well as 2022 general elections.
The DP is also banking on former Ndhiwa MP Agostino Neto who has formed United Green Movement Party in readiness for the assignment.
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