Former nominated senator Gloria Orwoba recounted how she allegedly pleaded with President William Ruto to appoint Interior PS Raymond Omollo following his crucial role in the 2022 elections. Gloria Orwoba reportedly pleaded with William Ruto to give Raymond Omollo a PS job. According to Orwoba, Omollo’s work in the lead-up to and during the campaigns was vital in ensuring the United Democratic Alliance’s success in Nyanza. Orwoba explained that Omollo had coordinated the party’s activities in the region and kept her regularly updated. “The relationship then was, he would call to give me a brief, then I would call the president to brief him about affairs in Nyanza,” she said.
What role did Raymond Omollo play in Ruto’s 2022 election? She highlighted that Omollo’s team facilitated the collection of election result sheets in some of the most challenging and risky areas. “He did a really good job. He used to call me every three days to give me a brief,” Orwoba said. She also recalled that during the period when the Raila Odinga’s camp contested Ruto’s win in court, Omollo was relatively unknown and could not even access Ruto’s residence in Karen. “If I’m lying, let him come here and say I am lying. He reached the gates of Karen when all of us were inside and he was not allowed to enter. I had to go and talk to the watchmen at the gate to allow Raymond to enter,” Orwoba said. Orwoba emphasised that Omollo’s dedication earned him the president’s initial trust. She noted that Ruto would regularly call her to ask about Omollo’s suitability and performance during the election period.
“I said he did a very good job, especially in logistics,” she added. Did Orwoba negotiate Raymond Omollo’s PS job? When the list of permanent secretaries was being drafted, Omollo reportedly called Orwoba repeatedly, anxious about missing out. “He called me, and we had dinner with him at Lavington. He was convincing me to talk to the president because things sounded like he could be forgotten. And I drafted a nice message reminding the president not to forget him. And I showed him the message,” Orwoba said. However, Orwoba said relations soured after Omollo was sworn in. “The next time I went to his office, he stood with a lot of bravado. Raymond now doesn’t pick my calls and treats me like badly,” she claimed. She further alleged that new opposition arose from other PSs, who reportedly told Ruto negative things about Omollo’s conduct. “I have friends who were PSs, so they echoed those things to me.
They said Raymond was boasting, every time walking with Ruto as if he is the blue-eyed boy. He used to take the PSs’ words to Ruto and they didn’t like him,” Orwoba said. Despite the tensions, Orwoba defended Omollo, insisting that he was a professional and dedicated civil servant. She revealed that she intervened on his behalf, arguing with colleagues to give him a chance, highlighting that he was not a politician like the rest. “I said he is a nice guy and very professional. I fought for him to get the opportunity,” she added.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
