Alex Tolgos, Sally Kosgey lead Rift Valley team in backing Raila Odinga presidency

Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos and former Head of Public Service Sally Kosgey have led a section of leaders from Rift Valley to declare their support for Azimio La Umoja presidential candidate leader Raila Odinga.

Raila received the delegation at his Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation at Upper Hill, Nairobi on Wednesday.

Paul Sang, while speaking said Raila is not a visitor in their region because they had worked together earlier. He also said Raila’s nickname, Baba will turn into being the father of the nation.

"You will decide when you speak Mr Prime Minister if you want them to be your supporters, associates, ambassadors. People are ready when you come over there you are not a visitor, we have worked with you before and we know your trend of volunteering and we have already started to practise, this Baba (Father) name will turn to become the Father of the nation," Sang said.

The leaders criticised Deputy President William Ruto for sidelining their region by failing to address their needs and asked Raila to intervene and have the stalled projects that were meant to benefit the people are revived.

The leaders described Raila as a safe pair of hands in which they felt safe.

Kosgey said they have many reasons for wanting Raila to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“We have many reasons to want you to take charge of this country so that we can achieve these things which have been on the drawing board for a long time,” Kosgei said.

The story of Arror and Kimwarer dams played centre stage in the meeting and the leaders appealed to Raila to take advantage of this close relationship with Uhuru to ensure the projects were complete.

“There are Arror and Kimwarer dams and also one in South Rift called Itare. It is the same company that brought down all those dams. It only means Arror, Kimwarer and Itare were derailed by the same person, and dong you all know who the person is?” Tolgos posed.

Former Westlands MP Fred Gumo revealed Raila was the person who initiated the dam projects and money was invested in the projects until one of their own stepped in and misappropriated the funds.

"The person who initiated Arror dam was this Prime Minister, and money was set aside for the project. Now when your boy came in he derailed everything and brought in some Italians because he wanted to squander that money. That is why Arror is in problems," Gumo said.

On his part, Raila said he would follow up on the matters that were raised by the leaders before August affirmed he would speak to Uhuru on the same once the president came back from his trip to Mount Kenya.

Raila also said he had already held discussions with the president about the price of fertiliser prices and he has made some arrangements to see the prices come down.

“I have already discussed the matter with Uhuru and he has sourced for funds. You will see the price of fertilisers coming down before he leaves office,” Raila said.

While answering the leaders’ questions of resettlement and compensation of Mau evictees, Raila revealed politicians who went and told the evictees to stay put when the government had already set aside a place for their resettlement hampered the process.

"We said people should leave Mau but be given a place to stay, but now the politicians go there and now they see this as an opportunity to play politics. They go in there with helicopters. Those people were discouraged not to go where we had already built. You are the one who caused the problem, you cannot be part of the solution," Raila said.

The delegation promised to campaign for Raila’s Azimio la Umoja movement and popularise his presidential bid.