Rivalry between businessman Zedekiah Bundotich alias Buzeki and Deputy President William Ruto continues to escalate with focus now being on the larger Rift Valley region.
The flamboyant businessman cum politician ditched Dr Ruto's Jubilee party, becoming the first insider to lose touch with the DP, who is keen to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2022.
Among others, Buzeki, a key financier of Jubilee campaigns in 2017, accuses Ruto's handlers of mistreating him. He joined Chama Cha Mashinani party.
On Friday, Buzeki hosted over 2,000 delegates mainly from South Rift at his Ainabkoi Farm in Uasin Gishu. He asked Rift Valley voters to join CCM.
The former Uasin Gishu gubernatorial hopeful accused Jubilee of failing to deliver some of pre-election pledges in 2017. He insisted that CCM is the right party to lead the country.
“We want to warn those attempting to incite communities along tribal and clan lines in Uasin Gishu that we are saying no to disunity. They should focus on selling their agenda,” he said, threatening to name politicians fanning ethnic hate.
“We elected President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy Ruto because they talked about improving health, roads and water supply, not Tangatanga and kieleweke. Elected leaders are now aligning themselves in the two factions as a scapegoat for their failure to deliver on their mandates,” Buzeki said.
Mr Buzeki is keen to revamp the Isaac Ruto led party, adding that politicians from Rift Valley should use it as alternative ahead of 2022 polls.