Nyaribo quits Mudavadi party for UPA following move to embrace Ruto
Amani National Congress (ANC) yesterday suffered a major political setback when its only governor in the Amos Nyaribo of Nyamira ditched it for United Progressive Alliance(UPA) party
The newly-minted UPA is associated with the Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and is being touted as the vehicle on which members of the Kisiii community are expected to use in the August polls.
Speaking to People Daily on phone, Nyaribo said he ditched the party following a fallout with his party boss Musalia Mudavadi who last month teamed up with Deputy President William Ruto.
“Mudavadi had indicated that he could work with the Deputy President William Ruto, politically, a person who am not ready to work with when it comes to matters of national politics of our country,“ he stated.
Nyaribo said he will seek-re-election on party’s ticket as well as rally support for Azimio la Umoja movement leader Raila Odinga’s presidential campaign.
The governor said by Mudavadi joining the political bandwagon of Ruto, he had committed a serious political mistake which he could not be part to. “How can I work with Mudavadi who reads from a different political script when it comes to the choice as who should be the next president of Kenya,” he added .
Nyaribo’s troubles with ANC and the party leader started when the party had its national delegates conference at Bomas last month when the deputy president joined the meeting under the invitation of the party leader without the delegates consent .
Nyaribo and other OKA leaders present Gideon Moi (KANU) and Kalonzo Musyoka(Wiper) walked out of the conference in protest against the invitation of Ruto to the meeting terming the invitation of Ruto by Mudavadi as betrayal .
He also asked the residents of Nyamira county to reject the Kenya Kwanza leadership which he says has nothing to offer Kenyans. “The Kisii community has always been in any national government formed and therefore voting for Ruto as the president means moving out of the next government which could be formed by Raila Odinga,” he advised .
The race for the seat of the governor is always a battle between Abagirango and Abagetutu clans in the county.
Members of the Abagetutu clan have everything to blame themselves for losing the seat twice because they fielded many candidates.
Currently there are five aspirants from the Bagetutu clan who have indicated that they will be willing to back one of them for the polls.
Among the five aspirants, the three are not known in the political arena as at one time each of them has served as MP in Kitutu Masaba constituency while the other two are new entrant in politics .
The five aspirants who have offered themselves for vetting by the Bagetutu clan are former MPs Mwancha Okioma,Walter Nyambati, Timothy Bosire, and Gideon Nyakundi and Henry Ongeri.
Okioma and Nyambati contested for the seat in the last General Elections but lost to the late John Nyagarama after dividing their home votes, a mistake the clan has vowed not to repeat this time round.
Those from Bogirango clan eying the seat include Nyaribo, Prof Reuben Omwega Marwanga, former MP Kiangoi Ombasa, Dr Julius Mokogi, Walter Chanua, James Maganda, James Kemoni and Borabu MP Ben Orori Momanyi. The Matiangi, Ruto and Raila factor could also play a big role in determining the next Nyamira county governor.
