An impromptu tour of parts of Siaya County by a section of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leadership met with resistance by local residents and a section of rowdy and intoxicated youth even tried to disrupt their speeches.

ODM officials led by Siaya Governor James Orengo, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino who were on their way to Busia for a rally were forced to cut short their speeches in Ugunja town as the placard waving youths kept shouting “Ruto Two Term”.

The leaders, who had landed at Gombe Airstrip on the outskirts of Siaya town headed straight to Ugunja, skipping Siaya town where Alego / Usonga Member of Parliament Samuel Atandi had assembled youths at the Siaya scouts centre to repulse the ODM entourage.

Atandi urged local residents to support President William Ruto and shun any leader out to block his push for a second term in office. He said Alego-Usonga had just concluded identity card registration where more than 10,000 people acquired the document and registered as new voters.

“This will help President Ruto to secure a second term,” he said and dismissed the opposition for misleading Kenyans with false promises.

In Ugunja, a section of the youth said all that they need was development, not empty rhetoric.

Henry Oluoch Owino from Ugunja constituency echoed the call, criticising local leaders who oppose government participation.

“Our request is simple; we need development and empowerment of our people. The only thing Baba Raila Odinga left us is this government, and we must remain steadfast in it,” said Henry Oluoch Owino, who addressed the media in Siaya shortly after the ODM team left.

His sentiments were supported by the Ugunja constituency ODM Youth Leader Joseph Juma and William Otieno who said the area youth were fully behind president Ruto.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Philip Onyango