For close to five hours, dozens of elected leaders from Nyamira and Kisii Counties held a closed-door meeting at Kisii Governor James Ongwae's residence where the end-month trip of President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga was discussed.
In the spirit of handshake, Uhuru and Raila are expected in the region on January 23rd and 24th where they will jointly launch a number of development projects besides commissioning a multi-million oncology center in Kisii.
After the meeting, Ongwae said: "Ongoing meeting: Kisii and Nyamira leaders.2 Governors, Deputy Governor, 2 Senators, 2 Women Reps, 11 MpsAgenda:1. The Presidents visit to Gusii region2. Issues affecting the community and the region's development.3. Cementing unity of Omogusii and our leadership." https://twitter.com/JamesOngwae/status/1083805037623721984?s=19
But an MP who attended the meeting, said Governor Ongwae and John Nyagarama of Nyamira were keen to unite the area leadership to avoid scenario of clashes between proponents of handshake and those in team 'Tanga Tanga'.
He said the leaders were divived on the projects to be launched even as some demanded that they are catered for in the supplimentary budget before the trip.
"The leadership is divided in two groups; those for handshake and those for the DP. But our governors were keen to have us drop the hard stances for the sake of development. We also agreed to have the projects in the president's itinerary be included in supplementary budget to avoid dragging of projects," he said.
Among those present were Janet Ong'era, Jerusha Momanyi, Alfa Miruka, Zeddock Ogutu, Sylvanus Osoro, Richard Tong'i and veteran MP Jimmy Angwenyi.
Others were Ben Momanyi, Joash Nyamoko, Shadrack Mose, Joash Maangi, Okong'o Mogeni, Prof Sam Ongeri and Oroo Oyioka.
The President will make stopovers in various places before addressing public gathering in both Nyamira and Kisii, the regions which have predominantly backed Raila Odinga for the last decade.
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