Why Didmus Barasa is on a break from Ruto camp

By Yusuf Masibo,

One of Deputy President William Ruto’s ‘generals’ has taken a breather from Tanga Tanga’s political activities ostensibly to embark on a peace mission.

Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa on Sunday March 21, said that he is taking a four-months “sabbatical leave” from Ruto’s political camp.

The Jubilee MP said that his interest in the coming weeks would be re-uniting the warring political groups within the Luhya community.

Addressing the press in his Siuna rural home in Bungoma County, the vocal MP said he wants to reunite the several Luhya politicians who have declared thier intentions to vie for the presidency in the 2022 General Election.

“If the Hustler Nation will not have interest of my Kimilili people at heart, then I will automatically quit because politics is about interests,’’ said Barasa.

The lawmaker’s decision comes after former Trade minister and UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi, who hails from his constituency, announced that he will vie for the presidency.

However, sources indicate that Barasa fell out with Ruto following the election defeat in Kabuchai by-election in which United Democratic Movement’s candidate Evans Kaikai lost to Ford Kenya’s Majimbo Kalasinga.

That notwithstanding, Barasa issued a clarification that he had not left the Hustler Nation but was only interested in advocating for Kimilili, Bungoma and Mulembe interests.

“We want also to find who is better placed to take interest of the said groups, if Tanga tanga will have no interest then we have no business being there,’’ he said.

The Kimilili MP said that the would use the four-months leave from Ruto’s camp to audit his achievements as a member of Parliament.

“From today henceforth, I am going for a four months sabbatical leave, it doesn’t mean that I have left Tanga Tanga, during my off, I will engage various leaders in Luhyaland so that we speak in one voice,” he said.