This archive report was first published on 29 October 2019.
William Ruto's Western Kenya allies are in disarray following his favoritism towards former Kakamega senator Boni Khalwale, a development that could trigger an unprecedented exodus of his supporters.
According to sources, Ruto has been courting Khalwale, gifting him a Nissan Patrol luxury vehicle and a Sh1 million monthly retainer in exchange for his loyalty and brinkmanship ahead of the 2022 transition.
Francis Atwoli, the Cotu secretary general, has warned Luhya MPs supporting Ruto to either switch camps or risk being voted out during the 2022 general polls.
Atwoli, who spoke at the funeral of the late Thika High School teacher Emmanuel Wenyusia in Bungoma county, claimed that Ruto had no respect for the Luhya people and that the community had no reason to support him in his bid for the presidency.
Atwoli also paraded the Luhya MPs before the mourners and declared that he would be playing the role of the late Masinde Muliro and Michael Wamalwa by going round at the respective levels.
He complained about elusive Luhya unity, citing the example of the ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetang'ula of Ford Kenya both fielding candidates in the November 7 2019 Kibra parliamentary by-election.
Atwoli claimed that Ruto's allies in the region were pitted against each other, with the DP not minding as long as they campaigned for him.
Weekly Citizen has learnt that some of the disgruntled allies of the DP have already sought audience with Raila for possible reunion, what with Khalwale's abrasive brand of politics apparently rubbing them the wrong way.
