Former Rarieda Member of Parliament Nicholas Gumbo has revealed how President William Ruto assisted him in ousting Raphael Tuju in the 2007 elections.
At the time, Mr. Tuju, a cabinet minister in the government of the late President Mwai Kibaki, was defending his seat on a PNU ticket while the ODM party had nominated Eng Gumbo as their candidate.
Eng Gumbo recalls the challenging dynamics of the race, with Mr. Tuju leveraging the government machinery to solidify his position.
As the election neared, Eng Gumbo found himself facing a financial crunch, while Mr. Tuju was ramping up his campaign spending.
Notably, both candidates hailed from the Asembo clan, one of the dominant Luo clans in Rarieda.
“I must admit, the 2007 race was tough as I battled to unseat my fellow Asembo clansman, Mr. Tuju,” Eng Gumbo remarked. “President William Ruto, then Prime Minister-designate, came to Rarieda and offered his support.”
He continued, “Facing financial constraints, President Ruto’s assistance provided the crucial resources needed for my campaign, ultimately leading to my victory in the Rarieda constituency.”
In 2007, President Ruto was a prominent member of ODM, aligning himself with Mr. Raila Odinga’s presidential bid.
Meanwhile, Mr. Tuju had severed ties with Mr. Odinga, opting to support President Mwai Kibaki’s reelection campaign.
With President Kibaki’s endorsement, Mr. Tuju faced an uphill battle in Rarieda, a stronghold of Mr. Odinga’s support base.
