[Chama Cha Mashinani(CCM) party leader Isaac Ruttto alongside ANC deputy party leader Kipruto Kirwa at Bomet stadium, March 27, 2017. Photo/twitter.com]Bomet governor Isaac Rutto’s Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM) party is yet to decide which presidential aspirant they will support in the upcoming August 8 polls.
He has been mandated to open dialogues with both Nasa and Jubilee. This is after over 5,000 party delegates converged in Bomet stadium, Monday, for a consultative meeting convened by elders to chart the way forward.
Sources indicated a section of Myoot Kipsigis Council of Elders want CCM to look at the possible outcomes that could arise before a final decision.
“There were fears that if CCM backs Nasa, there could be a possibility of it not getting the support it requires from the Kipsigis voting bloc in the South Rift region,” said one of the source that attended a closed-door meeting prior to the Bomet public meeting.
Rutto affirmed the elders had mandated him to negotiate a pre-election deal with presidential candidates, coalitions and deliver a report in two weeks.
“Once I deliver the report to elders; a decision will be made as to which presidential candidate, coalition the community will support,” Ruto said.
He however pointed out that those wooing CCM backing must support devolution; solve the unemployment menace among the youth and support students from needy backgrounds to peruse education by ensuring there is adequate finance.
On his part, ANC deputy party leader Kipruto Kirwa who was present at the Bomet meeting assured the Rutto that Nasa was ready to hold talks with CCM.