Editor's Review

"Si ata nyinyi mnajua nilikuwa mtu wa baba. Ili raila aitwe former Prime Minister, hiyo kiti nani alimtafutia?"

President William Ruto in a rare show camaraderie in his Nyanza Tour on Saturday described ODM leader Raila Odinga as his ally

Ruto who had pitched a tent in the Homa Bay County to launch Victoria Fish Farm in Suba South rekindled moments he walked with the ODM leader politically during their days in the ODM party.

He said for Raila to become Prime Minister in 2007, Ruto said he worked hard to ensure he bags the requisite votes.

"Si ata nyinyi mnajua nilikuwa mtu wa baba. Ili raila aitwe former Prime Minister, hiyo kiti nani alimtafutia? Si ni mimi na watu wengine?" Ruto said.

"Sasa siku ile nilikuwa mtu wa baba, lakini sahi mimi ni rais, baba amekuwa mtu wangu," he added.

President William Ruto in his tour of Nyanza. PHOTO | COURTESY

President Ruto was among the Pentagon members who backed Raila in 2007 when he faced Former President Mwai Kibaki.

He played a key role in rallying the Rift Valley region to back Raila.

In his Nyanza tour on Saturday, Ruto commissioned the improvement of the 53-kilometre Mfangano Island Ring Road in the company of Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, Cabinet Secretaries Kipchumba MurkomenĀ andĀ Eliud Owalo, Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wa, a host of MPs and MCAs.

"Upgrading roads in rural areas changes the social and economic outlook of the people; it opens up communities to investment, creates new economic activities and facilitates the provision of social services," Ruto said.

The four-day tour began on Friday and Ruto is expected to even chair a cabinet meeting at Kisumu State Lodge.