Opposition leader Raila Odinga has warned members of the ODM party to keep off Deputy President William Ruto's campaign meetings.
The former Prime Minister, however, at the same time told ODM leaders to welcome the DP to their various constituencies and regions but should refrain from campaigning for him. He said Ruto should be welcomed to opposition zones on purely development grounds.
He made the remarks while speaking on Citizen television on Tuesday evening during an interview hosted by Hussein Mohamed.
He spoke hours after the ODM party sent letters to ODM MPs Aisha Jumwa (Malindi) and Suleiman Dori (Msambweni) who have openly been campaigning for Ruto in Coast region.
ODM has given the two MPs seven day to explain the reason for their deviation from ODM principles to campaign for another candidate or face disciplinary action.
"I have already told my people to feel free to welcome Ruto to their constituencies for development," the former prime minister said.
"They should, however, refrain from early campaigns for 2022. They are campaigning for another candidate."
Ruto has been touring different parts of the country launching development projects and in some instances, he has engaged in politicking.
One of the regions the DP has visited severally is Coast which overwhelmingly voted for the ODM party and Raila in 2013 and 2017.