The ODM leader Raila Odinga betrayed the Abagusii community in 2002 by supporting the then presidential candidate Mwai Kibaki despite Simeon Nyachae, a former powerful minister who was also gunning for the top seat, an MP has claimed.
Nyaribari Chache MP Richard Tong’i said Raila was to blame for the increasing revolt from his Nyanza backyard due to the grave mistake he committed over 14 years ago.
Tong'i has been leading a group of other Jubilee allied MPs to counter the continued influence of the Orange party in the larger Gusii region.
He was addressing residents of Keumbu on Monday.
“The Abagusii community has no issue at all with Raila’s candidature but on my part, I think he betrayed us when we needed him the most. He was very influential and would have easily contributed to the first ever presidency to Nyanza,” he said.
”He is the one to blame for the revolt because at no instance he has ever come out to apologise to us. He messed with us in 2002 and the mistake will always affect his candidature even if I support him,” added the Ford People MP.
Odinga supported Mwai Kibaki of Narc who eventually beat Uhuru Kenyatta who was running on a Kanu ticket in the 2002 polls.