Jomo Kenyatta Foundation chairman Walter Nyambati believes the Gusii community stands to benefit more if it joins the Jubilee Party ahead of the next general election.
Nyambati is among candidates seeking to dethrone Nyamira Governor John Nyagarama in the 2017 polls.
And on Tuesday, the former Kitutu Masaba MP said the region was experiencing stagnated growth due to continued criticism of the Jubilee administration by a section of area leaders.
“As a community, time has come for us to join Jubilee Party if at all we are ready for progressive development. Jubilee Party and its government have shown the ability to work with the region despite our traditional support for the opposition,” said Nyambati in Nyaikuro, Kitutu Masaba.
Nyambati added: “the government is delaying development projects simply because a number of leaders are continuously engaging it in unconstructive criticism. We cannot benefit as a region if we continue engaging in such kind of backward politics.”
Nyamira County and the Gusii region at large voted overwhelmingly for opposition leader Raila Odinga in the 2013 polls and ODM National treasurer and Kitutu Masaba MP Timothy Bosire has on a number of occasions warned the region against supporting Jubilee government.