By Patricia Mollyne Mataga
Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai has challenged Busia Governor Paul Otuoma to declare his political stand.
Otuoma was elected on an ODM ticket in the 2022 general election but there has been a feeling that he has been closely working with the Kenya Kwanza administration.
The county boss has on several occasions hosted President William Ruto and even visited the Eldoret state lodge with other elected leaders from Busia County.
It is on this basis that Alai wants the county boss to publicly declare his stand.
“Are you fully in ODM or nusu nusu?” the MCA asked.
He was responding to a post by Otuoma who on Monday, April 15, 2024, met the ODM leader Raila Odinga.
The meeting was held at Raila’s residence in Karen, Nairobi.
In the post on his X handle, the governor said they discussed several issues with the former Prime Minister among them ODM grassroots elections and other issues of national importance.
“I held discussions with my ODM party leader, the Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga, at his Karen home today. Our discussions focused on various issues, including the upcoming party grassroots elections and the unity of the party and other pertinent national issues,” the governor said in the post.
The ODM party also confirmed the meeting.
In a post on their verified X handle, the Orange party said, “Governor of Busia County @HonOtuoma when he called on Party Leader @RailaOdinga at his residence in Karen earlier today.”
Otuoma has in the past faced scrutiny over his dalliance with President Ruto.
A section of the ODM leaders warned that the governor should choose to be either in government or the opposition – and not both.
“We know them and we’re tired of this trend. They have been doing this but we are now warning them to remain loyal to our party or leave and never come back,” Funyula MP Ouda Mudenyo had told the county boss in June 2023.
But in response, Otuoma said his relationship with the national government was purely for development purposes.