Deputy President William Ruto his battling for Luo-Nyanza votes as 2022 nears.

Over the weekend, DP Ruto’s allies raided Opposition chief Raila Odinga’s Nyanza backyard by hosting youths from the region.

Through his close ally Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, Ruto has been assembling grassroots troops from Nyanza that will campaign for him in the 2022 elections.

In a meeting attended by Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa and his Bahati counterpart Kimani Ngunjiri, Sudi at the weekend hosted youths from Kisumu, Siaya, Migori and Homa Bay at his rural home in Kapsaret.

Those who attended the rally included youth leaders, women groups and clerics  who previously supported Raila’s presidential campaigns.

The youth were mainly from Kisumu’s Kondele estate, which is a political hotbed in the lakeside city and those from Raila’s Bondo rural home.

Others were from Ahero, Nyakach, Muhoroni and Kendu Bay.

According to a report by a local daily, the youths have formed a movement dubbed “ Nyanza Youth Movement for Ruto 2022” to campaign for Ruto.

On Sunday August 2, 2020, the Kapseret MP told the local daily  that they were determined to raid Raila’s political turf. 

“We are determined to penetrate Luo Nyanza so that we can unlock its residents from the chains of poverty. Our intention is to sell the DP as the best alternative,” he was quoted saying.

Sudi said Kenyans should live together in harmony despite holding divergent political views, citing his relationship with Raila.

“Raila is my friend, even though we have different political views. Just the other day we had lunch as friends,” he said. 

The Kapseret MP also asked leaders not to incite Kenyans against each other.

“There is no day citizens engage in violence on their own, they are usually incited by leaders,” he said. 

On his part, Barasa called on Nyanza residents to shun tribal politics and vote for leaders with a clear development agenda. 

“You do not eat the title of your tribesmen in Government. Your life will not change because your tribesman is in power, your life will only change if the people you elect have a plan to transform lives,” said Barasa.