Ruto’s plan to inherit Raila turf, retain Mt Kenya vote

 

President William Ruto 

President William Ruto has signalled a plan to inherit opposition chief Raila Odinga’s political bases and keep intact the Mt Kenya bloc.

The President’s move comes in the wake of a backlash in Mount Kenya — once his foremost political bedrock — triggered by the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

In a strategy clearly targeted at his re-election, Ruto is seemingly leveraging his new-found friendship with Raila Odinga to rally Nyanza and other strongholds behind him, even as he keeps his Mt Kenya allies.

Ruto, who faced Raila in the last presidential contest, performed dismally in the opposition leader’s bases including Coast, Western and parts of Nairobi and North Eastern.

Raila is unlikely to run for President in 2027 as he is eyeing a top African Union job that could keep him out of the local scene.

Ruto’s plan manifested itself on Sunday when Raila’s troops and Mt Kenya MPs accompanied him to a church event. They all vowed to stand with him.

Ruto attended a service at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Moiben, Uasin Gishu county in the company of Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma and Migori Senator Eddy Oketch – Raila’s sworn die-hards.

“I see even as I talk, His Excellency, some people are still asking, have these people really come? We are not leaving,” Kaluma said.

From Mt Kenya; MPs John Njunguna alias Kawanjiku (Kiambaa), Geoffrey Ruku (Mbeere North and Dancan Mathenge (Nyeri Town) accompanied the head of state.

Parliament impeached the Deputy President two weeks ago in what Gachagua said had Ruto’s blessing. Ruto nominated Interior CS Kithure Kindiki – who hails from the same region – as Gachagua’s successor.

Subsequently, the National Assembly approved his nomination but the ousted DP swiftly moved to court and secured orders stopping his replacement.

Though the President kept off politics, speeches by the opposition MPs and those from Mt Kenya left no doubt that the head of state was keen to rally the regions behind him.

Tellingly, Kaluma introduced his colleagues to the podium as ‘MPs supporting the broad-based government’. In his address to the congregation, Kaluma said ODM is firmly in Ruto’s government, adding that they are on board to help the President anchor his agenda.

“Mine is to warn you to respect the Presidency. We have searched for it but we have never found it on that side. We will help you,” he stated.

“Where we have come from is very far. Walking from Sudan, Uganda until here. Now walking from Kisumu to Moiben cannot be difficult. Mr President, we are not leaving.”

Kaluma asked Ruto’s UDA troops to allow him to exercise authority bestowed upon him to unify the country.

“The only request we have is that before he goes to Addis Ababa because we have never known you to fail in anything.... do you think the President can fail to take Baba to Addis Ababa……you will come to Homa Bay and (Raila) hands us over as his children,” he said.

Echoing Kaluma’s remarks, the Migori senator said ODM and Raila’s bases are in government to further the unity of the country.

“We are here as ODM to water and bring up that unity that you and Baba brought together,” Oketch said.

The first-term lawmaker said unity is the biggest gift and the legacy those in power can be remembered for. In an apparent reference to the impeachment of Gachagua as DP, Oketch praised Ruto for making the ‘hardest’ decision to unify the country.

“The responsibility of nationhood will be given to reliable custodians. Reliable custodians can only be reliable if they make the hardest decisions in life. And we have seen you make the hardest decision not only to bring development to those who elected you but also unify the country,” he said.

MPs Mathenge, Kawanjiku and Ruku held that Mt Kenya’s support for the President has remained intact despite Gachagua’s removal.

“I have come here because we people from Nyeri and the community of the Kikuyu, Embu and Meru elected you willingly and with faith. Our faith in you has not dropped,” Mathenge said.

The MP insisted that Mt Kenya would not leave the government they voted for and believed in.

by JULIUS OTIENO