Ruto’s Aide Kibagendi Decamps to ODM After Exchange with MP Osoro

The Director of Youth Affairs in the Office of Deputy President William Ruto, Anthony Kibagendi, has dumped the UDA party for Raila Odinga’s ODM party.

Kibagendi was on Wednesday welcomed to the Azimio la Umoja camp by Raila and Kisii Governor James Ongwae.

He is said to have decamped last week following a nasty exchange with South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro over WhatsApp.

Read: Drama at Devolution Conference as DP Ruto’s Aide Blocked from Presiding Over Event

The Ruto loyalists are said to have differed on their chances of winning the polls in the upcoming general elections.

“At least I have been elected even if I lose this coming election, but for you to be elected will be the eighth wonder of the world,” Osoro hit out at Kibagendi.

Osoro, a lawyer turned politician, is seeking to retain while Kibagendi has his sights trained on the Kitutu Chache MP seat.

Read Also: Ruto Could Be President in Future if he Reforms – Uhuru Says as He Backs Raila’s Presidential Bid

The incumbent, Richard Onyonka, has declared interest in the Kisii senatorial seat on an ODM ticket.

It is said that tensions have been high within Ruto’s camp in the Kisii branch.

Word also has it that he (Kibagendi) has been feuding with Osoro and businessman-cum-politician Zaheer Jhanda.

Read Also: Jalang’o Threatens to Quit Lang’ata MP Race If He Loses ODM Primaries

“Yeah, I have resigned. I have worked tirelessly for UDA but now I am being despised. I have left to them their party,” Kibagendi said after quitting the DP’s party.

Kibagendi assumed the role in the DP’s office in August 2018. He previously worked at Westwood Security Services Limited as a director of Operations for a period of eight years.

“I lived in a fairly rich neighbourhood where all the children around me had the latest of all things from books to clothes. My two sisters and I were brought up by a single mother and of course I could not get everything I wanted,” he told the Standard in a past interview.

“In campus, I wanted to look good and to wear the trendiest clothes. I started a photocopying and printing business. Then an idea came to me about making branded university T-shirts. I was lucky to get orders from all the public universities, as well as from Centre of Disease Control (CDC) in Kisumu.”