ODM boss Raila Odinga receives a delegation from the Rift Valley

Former Head of Public Service Dr. Sally Kosgei was on Wednesday among a section of Rift Valley leaders that declared support for the presidential bid of ODM leader Raila Odinga.

The delegation of leaders led by Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos described Odinga as a safe pair of hands.

The leaders asked Odinga to intervene and ensure stalled water dam projects like Arror and Kimwarer and Itare are completed.

They criticised Deputy President William Ruto saying he had failed to address the region's needs.

Dr. Kosgey, Paul Sang, Chief Administrative Secretary Stephen Tarus and businessman Kipkorir Menjo were among Rift Valley leaders who paid a visit to Odinga at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation offices.

The leaders were accompanied by a host of residents from South Rift region who pledged their support for Odinga’s bid to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta as the fifth president of Kenya.

“Wewe ukiongea bwana Prime Minister utaamua…kama hawa watu unataka wakuwe wafuasi wako, washiriki, mabalozi. Watu wako tayari ukikuja kule wewe si mgeni tumefanya na wewe hapo awali tunajua mwenendo wako kujitolea kwako na tumeanza kufanya practice, hii jina Baba itakuwa Baba wa taifa,” said Sang.

Dr. Kosgey stated: “We have many reasons to want you to take charge of this country so that we can achieve these things that have been on the drawing board for a long time.”

Governor Tolgos, on his part, said: “Tulikuwa tumepatiwa target kidogo ya 30%...na mnajua 2017 Baba alikuwa na 24% minus kura ya Tolgos, minus kura yenu na wengine wengi.”

The leaders presented their wish list to Odinga, asking the ODM leader to take advantage of his cordial relationship with President Kenyatta and facilitate the completion of stalled development projects in the region, particularly dams caught in the corruption web.

Former MP Fred Gumo said: “Ile Arror dam mtu ambaye aliinitiate alikuwa huyu Prime Minister, na pesa ikawekwa, sasa huyu kijana wenu alipoingia kule akabomoa akaleta watu wengine wataliano kule kwa maana anataka kula hiyo pesa, ndio maana hiyo Arror iko kwa shida.”

“Kuna dam ya Arror na Kimwarer, na pia South Rift tuko na ile ya dam ya Itare…na ile kampuni ambayo ilifilisisha hizi dam zote ni moja…kumaanisha mtu aliharibu mambo ya Arror na Kimwarer na Itare ni mtu mmoja…na si nyinyi mnajua ni nani?” Posed Governor Tolgos.

Odinga said: “Mimi nitafuata sasa…kabla tarehe ya Agosti, ntafuata tu…kesho ntaongea na na Uhuru akitoka huko mlimani.”

With farming the mainstay of the Rift Valley people, they lamented the high cost of fertilizer which had negatively impacted the cost of production.

“Tayari nimeongea na Uhuru na amaetafuta pesa…mtaona kama bei ya mbolea itarudi chini kabla hajatoka kwa ofisi,” said Odinga.

Mau Forest politics also surfaced since most of the evictees were majorly from the South Rift, Odinga was urged to fast-track the compensation of families flushed out in the recent operation.

“Tulisema watu watoke Mau lakini wapewe mahali ambapo wanaweza kukaa…lakini sasa wanasiasa wakaenda pale wakaona sasa hii ni nafasi ya kupiga siasa. Wanaingia kule na ma-helicopter…sasa hao watu walikatazwa kutoka kuenda pale ambapo tayari tulikuwa tumeshatengeneza. Wewe mwenyewe ndio ulileta hiyo shida, you cannot be part of the solution,” stated the ODM chief.

The leaders promised to hit the road in campaigns for Odinga’s Azimio la Umoja unity movement.