By David Otieno, Kakamega
Saboti Member of Parliament Caleb Amisi has dismissed as propaganda claims by Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula that he is in talks to join President William Ruto’s political camp.
Savula recently claimed that the broad-based government was engaging Amisi, who has recently fallen out with the Linda Mwananchi movement, in a bid to bring him into Ruto’s fold.
“As we speak, we are talking to Caleb Amisi. We have engaged him formally and very soon, if the negotiations are successful, he’ll join the Ruto team,” Savula said during a television interview.
The Kakamega Deputy Governor said the government was taking advantage of divisions within the Linda Mwananchi movement to court Amisi, whom he described as one of its key figures.
“There seem to be huge political differences in the Linda Mwananchi team. We are capitalising on those differences to pull Caleb Amisi to our side,” Savula stated.
Amisi has since rejected the claims, describing them as “false” and “reckless” propaganda aimed at creating divisions among Kenyans seeking political change.
In a statement, the legislator insisted that his political ideology remained unchanged, saying his public record demonstrated consistency and principle.
Addressing Savula directly, Amisi accused the deputy governor of hypocrisy, citing his role in government during the 2024 Gen Z-led protests. He argued that while he stood with demonstrators opposing police brutality and state excesses, Savula was aligned with a government he accused of issuing shoot-to-kill orders.
Amisi said Savula’s current opposition stance could not erase that record and urged him to extend to political opponents the same tolerance he expected while serving in government.
The MP also criticised what he described as a growing tendency within opposition circles to brand emerging young leaders as “moles.” He argued that no individual or faction had the authority to determine who belonged to the movement for democratic change and called for unity based on shared principles rather than suspicion and personality politics.
He further cautioned against tribal mobilisation, saying the 2024 protest movement demonstrated that Kenyans could organise across ethnic and regional lines. According to Amisi, reducing national politics to ethnic competition would only strengthen the government the opposition seeks to challenge.
The Saboti MP pointed to his own re-election as evidence that voters are increasingly willing to support leaders based on merit rather than ethnic identity.
The latest exchange comes a day after Amisi warned Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna against pursuing a political alliance with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Amisi has continued to advocate for what he describes as Kenya’s “Fourth Liberation,” a movement centred on generational leadership, economic justice, accountability and national renewal.
