By MN Reporter

Nyanza political rivalry and supremacy that has been simmering underground in President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance party played out on Friday.

ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo, placed by Ruto as Nyanza kingpin has been having frosty relation with former Migori governor Okoth Obado.

The two leaders had tense relations ahead of UDA party primaries with both angling to have friendly lineups before they were called off.

On Friday Owalo got a dose of political turf war when Obado is said to have called a fatwa on a function he held when he called off all UDA party luminaries in the area to stop attending it.

On Friday, on Friday at Lianda Primary School in Awendo constituency Owalo landed in a chopper and donated Sh1million in forming Central Sakwa Cooperative SILC Sacco which brought 26 women groups.

Unlike in past function when political luminaries from UDA thronging his function to ululate for him, Owalo had only the Leadership of the Professional Association of Nyanza Women (PANY).

PANY Deputy Patron Rose Nyamunga; National Chair Betty Adera; Secretary Joan Obunga; and Organizing Secretary Grace Okara; Ex-Senator Elizabeth Ongoro; LBDA Chairman James Dianga Waore; and Director Rebecca Moraa (former county executive) joined him.

It is said ahead of the meeting a parallel WhatsApp group supporting Obado was formed which whipped party members to skip the function and give it a wide berth.

Sony Sugar chairman and former Awendo MP Jared Kopiyo, former Migori MP John Pesa, former Migori executives Elijah Odhiambo and Valentine Ogongo, Nyatike politician Odiso Ogenga, wife to former Rongo MP Dorothy Otieno are among leaders who skipped the function.

They had never missed any function by Owalo in the past.

Tension has been brewing in the party with claims that Owalo has been cozing up to former Nyatike MP Edick Anyanga.