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Sunday, September 3, 2023 –Kakamega County Governor Fernandes Barasa is battling claims of betrayal over his association with Kenya Kwanza politicians.
Throughout this week, the first-time county boss, has been moving around with President Ruto and other KK leadership around Western Region.
The governor elected on Orange Democratic Movement ODM ticket also hosted the head of State at his Matungu Mumias home on August 31 where they had dinner together and posed for a photo shoot session at his rural residence.
And speaking during the launch of Kakamega County Governors Cup on Saturday September 2 at Bushiri Grounds, Mr. Barasa dismissed claims that he had decamped from the Orange Democratic Movement ODM and joined President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance UDA Party.
“I have heard some sections link me to UDA; I have not defected to UDA Party. My focus remains on collaborating with the President on developmental matters,” he clarified.
The politician defended that his relationship with President Ruto was purely because of development in his county and nothing else.
He urged supporters not to read too much in this unity saying the national government is still key in making sure counties are supported to achieve some of their mega long-term goals.
Barasa, of recent, has been coalescing around the head of State and even his political rivals within the county among them UDA Party Sec Gen Cleophas Malala.
Asked about this latest conduct, the politician said he is not obliged to explain why he received the KK top leaders into his county.
The Governor’s Cup was launched in the presence of former senator Cleophas Malala from United Democratic Alliance.
“Today, I joined Governor Fernandez Baraza for the launch of Kakamega County Governors Cup. The tournament is a strategic way of fostering unity, talent growth and an avenue of Unity for the County and the National government,” Malala stated.
Mr. Malala was his fierce rival in the last year’s general election.