Former Funyula MP Paul Otuoma Abandons Raila for President Uhuru

Deputy President William Ruto has received former Funyula MP Paul Otuoma to the Jubilee Party after he abandoned the opposition.

Otuoma declared his support for President Uhuru Kenyatta when he accompanied DP Ruto on a campaign trail to Busia County on Monday.

Otuoma hosted the Deputy President and more over 1,000 Jubilee delegates at his home, where he announced that he had decamped to Jubilee and he would rally behind the the re-election of President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Ruto and Otuoma later addressed a series of rallies at Bumula in Bungoma County during the homecoming of area MP Mwambu Mabonga.

Otuoma contested for the Busia governor seat as an independent candidate and had declared support for National Super Alliance presidential candidate Raila Odinga in the nullified August 8th election. Otuoma, however, lost to Sospeter Ojaamong of ODM.

Speaking while accompanying DP Ruto, Otuoma hit out at Raila and vowed to deliver over 100,000 votes to President Uhuru from Busia.

“You cannot call yourself a national leader and behind closed doors you are dividing the same people supporting you,” he said.

“Nasa did not want me. Raila will realise that he made a mistake by deciding to take sides in Busia governorship contest.”

He accused the former Prime Minister of being self-centered and using those close to him to propagate his selfish agenda.

“We want to be in the government. We know we are going to surpass the 35,000 votes Jubilee got in Busia in last month’s polls as our contribution to Uhuruto,” he said.

Busia Elders Council also declared support for Uhuru following “wide consultation with the electorate on September 5, 2017”.

In a memorandum read out by secretary George Wesonga, the elders vowed to deliver the county’s vote to Jubilee basket.

“We are determined to deliver over 100,000 votes to Uhuruto’s basket in the repeat election slated for October 17. We also need to be pro-active and partners in the Jubilee government,” Mr Wesonga said.

Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka, National Assembly Chief Whip and Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali, Kimilili MP Didimus Wekesa, Ababu Namwamba and Water Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa also attended the meetings.

Others were former MPs Mary Emase (Teso South), Arthur Odera (Teso North), Chris Okemo (Nambale), Fred Gumo (Westlands) and Agricultural Finance Corporation managing director Lucas Meso.