Ruto Witnesses Gusii Leaders’ Heated Showdown
Gusii unity once again came under scrutiny in front of President William Ruto, as local leaders clashed, leading to heckling among the crowd.
Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo found himself at the center of this political and clan rivalry, facing jeers even in his stronghold of North Mugirango.
In Kitutu Masaba, Nyaribo was unable to address the crowd and had to step aside while other leaders spoke to his constituents.
North Mugirango MP Joash Nyamoko criticized fellow lawmakers from Nyamira, accusing them of undermining his leadership and speaking ill of him at funerals.
The community, already struggling to find direction after former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i departs from public life, is now witnessing even more divisions, with unity proving elusive and short-lived over the past two years.
Despite this, local leaders continue to emphasize that achieving unity is crucial for unlocking the region’s potential and improving residents’ lives.
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In the past two years, unity efforts have often intensified just before President Ruto’s visits to the region.
However, a concerning pattern has emerged, where political leaders engage in fierce disputes soon after the president leaves.
These disputes, particularly among those elected under President Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA), have hindered efforts to rally support for the president in the two counties.
President Ruto is currently in Gusii for a three-day development tour starting Monday.
During his visit to Kitutu Masaba, President Ruto quipped, “Are you people conducting a referendum here?” in response to the crowd’s heckling of Mr. Nyaribo.
Before President Ruto’s arrival, elected and nominated leaders from the community, in a rare show of unity, met to strategize on how best to welcome him.
Their preparations included a meeting with President Ruto last Thursday at State House. Residents have been speculating about how long this ‘unity’ will last.
Stay united
Kisii Governor Simba Arati and Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo spearheaded the unity efforts, bringing together other local leaders for the meeting.
The president’s visit to the region was delayed to give the leaders time to resolve internal issues.
Two weeks prior, lawmakers from the region convened in Nairobi ahead of President Ruto’s anticipated visit, pledging to stay united.
The meeting, led by Solicitor-General Shadrack Mose, was in preparation for President Ruto’s expected visit to Kisii and Nyamira on August 5.
The tour was postponed due to disagreements among the leaders over the constituencies the president should visit and which projects to launch.
Some leaders in Kisii had also expressed concerns that Ruto’s visits were limited to three constituencies: South Mugirango, represented by Silvanus Osoro, Kitutu Chache North, represented by Japheth Nyakundi, and Nyaribari Chache, represented by Zaheer Jhanda.
These dissatisfied leaders wanted the president to visit other areas in Gusii as well. The visit was rescheduled to August 12.
The approach of UDA-aligned leaders might shift, given that President Ruto has included opposition figures in his Cabinet.
This strategic move could garner support from influential Gusii leaders with strong grassroots connections.
These leaders include Simba Arati, Anthony Kibagendi (Kitutu Chache South), and Clive Gisairo (Kitutu Masaba).
Last Thursday, Gusii leaders, along with newly appointed Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba, met with President Ruto at State House, Nairobi.
Notably absent from these ‘unity’ meetings was Kisii County Senator Richard Onyonka, who has been a vocal critic of President Ruto’s administration in the Senate and media, particularly during the recent Gen Z protests.
Past setbacks
“Development in Nyamira and Kisii is our top priority. President Ruto met with us to discuss key issues in preparation for his upcoming three-day visit,” said Governor Nyaribo after the meeting.
National Assembly Majority Whip Silvanus Osoro emphasized that “significant initiatives have been planned for the betterment of the region.”
He noted that the initial meeting allowed leaders to reflect on past shortcomings and strategize for future success.
“Our differences in opinion are temporary, but our region’s needs are universal,” he added.
Kitutu Chache North MP and UDA National Treasurer Japheth Nyakundi highlighted that the president’s visit would include the launch of key projects such as road construction, a Cancer Center, affordable housing, Last Mile electricity connectivity, and school infrastructure improvements.
West Mugirango MP Steve Mogaka affirmed that they had agreed to set aside political differences “for the sake of the Omogusii community and development,” and that the president’s tour would expedite the completion of stalled projects in the region.
On Tuesday, August 13, Kisii Woman Rep Dorice Aburi was heckled at Ekerubo.
Ruto Witnesses Gusii Leaders’ Heated Showdown
