A storm is brewing among Gusii leaders hours to the much anticipated Building Bridges Initiative consultative forum in Gusii.
The forum set to be held on Friday shall bring together leadership from Kisumu, Nyamira, Kisii, Migori, Homa Bay and Siaya Counties.
Besides other guests, ODM leader Raila Odinga will be the chief guest as the Nyanza leadership plans to have a common stand on the BBI report.
However, the meeting could be boycotted by a section of leaders from Nyamira and Kisii counties who are perceived to be close to DP William Ruto.
In a press conference on Tuesday, Kisii Deputy Governor Joash Maangi accused a section of organisers of openly discriminating those allied to Ruto.
At the centre of the storm is Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang'i, who Maangi claims are being used by local leaders as an excuse to create divisions.
"Let it be known that we support Matiang'i as Omogusii. Those hiding in him to discriminate us should stop. We all support him as our son and government minister," he said.
"We cannot convene meetings to discuss a report which we have all endorsed. The meeting should have been development-oriented," he said, adding that "let those who want to attend do so".
Dr Matiang'i is said to be keen to run for an elective seat and is using the Gusii population as his reference in a bid to bargain nationally.
Last week, Nyamira Governor John Nyagarama insisted that the Friday meeting has nothing to do with political factions as being claimed.
"It's a meeting that would provide a platform for all to air their views. It's not a political meeting that targets certain groups," he told reporters.
While Raila has confirmed attendance, Dr Matiang'i, who is a sworn proponent of BBI, is yet to confirm his availability.
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