By Joshua Cheloti

President William Ruto on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, hosted a number of elected leaders from the Nyanza region.

The meeting held at State House in Nairobi has already elicited mixed reactions, with various social media users claiming leaders present pledged their unconditional support to the President.

A majority of the leaders present were elected on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket in the August 9, 2022, general election.

Sharing photos of the meeting on his verified social media pages, the Head of State said, “Leaders must join hands, foster coexistence and work together in confronting the challenges facing our country.”

“They must endeavour to lead by example and serve the interest of the people. This is a sure route to a more united and developed Kenya. At State House, Nairobi held a consultative meeting with MPs from Nyanza following a recent visit to the region,” he added.

At least 9 elected leaders attended the meeting. They are;

– Gideon Ochanda (Bondo)

– Elisha Odhiambo (Gem)

– Mark Nyamita (Uriri)

– Caroli Omondi (Suba South)

– Shakeel Shabir (Kisumu East, Independent)

– Felix Odiwuor alias Jalang’o (Lang’ata)

– Paul Abuor (Rongo)

– John Owino (Awendo)

– Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda

The meeting comes just weeks after Ruto visited the Nyanza region for a development tour. During the visit, Ruto was accompanied by a host of leaders, including his deputy Rigathi Gachagua, where they were warmly received.

Nyanza leaders however held a meeting with the President on the backdrop of political rallies that the opposition has been organizing.

Political pundits have already branded the latest meeting as Ruto’s attempt to weaken the opposition leader.

But even as Kenyans express mixed reactions over the meeting, some of the leaders that were present have come out to clarify why they were at State House.

Jalang’o, the Lang’ata MP in a social media post said, used the meeting to push for various development projects in his constituency.

“Today we had breakfast with the president, I followed up on the Start date of the construction of affordable housing in Highrise ward and the completion of the Langata TVET.”

”The project is on and the contractor is on ground, an extra 50Million has been located for the completion,” he said.