Kisii Deputy Governor Joash Maangi has now revealed why he divorced Raila-led Orange Democratic Party (ODM) for DP Ruto.
Having been elected back in 2013 jointly with the current Governor James Ongwae on an ODM ticket, his abrupt move to join Ruto's camp ahead of 2022 showdown came as a surprise to many.
This has elicited various reactions in Gusii politics as to why he made the move. It has only left people to make speculations but also given his critics a platform to criticize his 2022 aspirations of becoming the next Kisii County Governor.
However, in a documentary that was aired by Citizen TV on Friday evening, Maangi revealed the reasons why he chose to support Ruto and not Raila whose party ticket enabled him to be the Deputy Governor. He cited political and personal reasons for the same.
"My relationship with Deputy President Dr. William Ruto has been both personal and political. We have been friends for a long time way back from 1992. It is common knowledge that when I was going to America in 1997 he gave me a ticket. There is nothing wrong with that. We are good friends," Maangi said.
Kisii County has been said to be an ODM stronghold for some time. Having his own political ambitions, the sudden move to support Ruto has raised eyebrows with many people speculating a party he is intending to vie from in 2022 general election, however, he has never said a word upon it.