President William Ruto was left surprised by the warm welcome he received from residents of Kondele, Kisumu, on Saturday, August 31, 2024.
The scene was a stark contrast to the hostile reception he faced during his presidential campaign in November 2021, when his convoy was met with rocks and jeers.
Addressing a large gathering in Kondele, Ruto humorously reminded the locals of the turbulent moments from his last visit to the area.
“Hapa inaitwa aje?” he asked with a hint of sarcasm.
The crowd responded loudly, “Kondele!” prompting the president to express his disbelief at the shift in mood.
Reflecting on his 2021 experience, Ruto joked about the difficulties he faced during his campaign stop in the same location.
“Aki ya Mungu nyinyi mumenitesa sana nyinyi watu wa Kondele,” Ruto remarked, laughing as he recalled how he was forced to cut short his speech amidst chaos and flying stones.
“Sikizeni, mukiendelea kunitesa nitawashtaki kwa Baba. Na mukizidi nitawashtaki kwa Mungu,” he added, to the amusement of the crowd, referring to Raila Odinga, the veteran opposition leader and his former political rival, by his popular nickname “Baba.”
Ruto’s recollection of his past struggles in Kondele, often seen as the epicentre of opposition politics in Kisumu, was laced with both humour and surprise.
“Si mimi nilikuja hapa, si munajua vile mulinifanya? Hehehehehe eeeh! Ata sikuamini ni nyinyi. Yani nyinyi huwa wangwana namna hii? Hapana, hapana!” Ruto quipped, still incredulous that the same residents who had once chased him away were now giving him a warm welcome.
The president seized the opportunity to emphasize the newfound unity in Kenya’s political landscape, highlighting his camaraderie with Raila Odinga as a turning point.
“Mimi na mweshimiwa Raila Amollo Odinga aka Baba tumekubaliana yakwamba ile siasa ya zamani, siasa ya kutugawanya, siasa ya ukabila, siasa ya kutengana jamani hio siasa tuache nyuma tuungane tuwe kitu kimoja,” Ruto said, underscoring the importance of moving past divisive politics.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who accompanied Ruto, was equally astonished by the reception from Kondele residents.
“Ehh ehh ehhh, Kondele ni nyinyi? Kondele ni nyinyi?” Gachagua exclaimed, recalling the political tension that once characterized their relationship.
The deputy president noted that their past differences stemmed from Kondele’s strong support for Raila during the August 9, 2022, presidential election, while he campaigned for Ruto.
“Kondele oiyee! Ndo huyu Riggy G mwenyewe nimefika hapa Kondele tuonane macho kwa macho, ndio huyu mimi ile mtu ya mulima Kenya,” Gachagua stated, acknowledging the rift that had since been bridged.
“Unajua nyinyi watu wa kondele hapo mbeleni hatukua tunaelewana vizuri na shida yetu na nyinyi ilikua tu kidogo na sasa tumetatua. Kwa sababu nyinyi mulikua munataka Baba akue rais, sindio? Na mimi nilitaka mtu wangu William Ruto akue rais sindio? Lakini sasa tumetatua,” he said, suggesting that the time for animosity was over.
November 2021 chaos
Ruto’s dramatic visit to Kondele on November 10, 2021, had been marked by clashes, forcing him to flee the area as his convoy was pelted with stones.
Photos from that chaotic day showed smashed vehicle windows and teargas clouds as police struggled to control the crowds.
However, the atmosphere this time around was markedly different, with laughter and a sense of camaraderie replacing the hostility of the past.
The president’s return to the heart of Raila Odinga’s stronghold signifies not only a shift in his relationship with the region but also a broader effort to foster unity in a country often divided along ethnic and political lines.
As Ruto winds up his tour of Luo Nyanza, he aims to build on this newfound goodwill, promoting a message of reconciliation and national unity.
