Only a handful of leaders attended Deputy President William Ruto’s functions as he toured the Coast region to launch government projects.
Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya and Coast Parliamentary Group chairman Suleiman Dori were among the leaders who snubbed the event. Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi and Tana River’s Dhado Godhana were also absent.
A source quoted by the Daily Nation opined that Mvurya was absent because he had not been involved in the planning of the tour by Ruto's team.
The DP traversed the region in the company of Lunga Lunga MP Khatib Mwashetani, Malindi’s Aisha Jumwa and Lamu East’s Sharif Athman.
The source also claimed that Mvurya did not take part in Ruto’s tour because it was organised by Mwashetani yet he has endorsed his Deputy Fatuma Achani to succeed him in 2022.
“It is all about politics. And we are aware that the deputy president was invited by Lunga Lunga MP Khatib Mwashetani and this might have angered the governor. The governor has endorsed his deputy Fatuma Achani, and by virtue of attending the functions could have been seen as endorsing Mr Mwashetani,” said the source.
Dori was absent because he has been sick for a while.
Other leaders who attended Ruto’s functions are Badi Twalib (Jomvu), Rehema Hassan (Tana River), Said Haribae (Galole), nominated Senator Christine Zawadi, Ali Wario (Bura), Shariff Athman (Lamu East) and Kaloleni MP Paul Katana.