Details of Ruto’s confrontation with Interior PS Karanja Kibicho at JKIA on Wednesday have just revealed another side of the DP that many people were not aware of.
The incident is a manifestation that Ruto has thrown caution to the wind and is ready to confront his political enemies. Kibicho is accused of using his powers at the Interior Ministry to warn County Commissioners and police not to attend Ruto’s functions in Nyeri and Turkana.
Before that, Ruto had taken a back-step, choosing to play cool on the frustrations he has been facing from State House and the established political class. This year has seen budgetary allocation to his office significantly. Ruto’s powers were also reduced when Fred Matiang’i was made the chief minister.
But playing cool has not worked and Ruto has decided to change tactics. For the first time, he used a military plane during his visit to Turkana. In a way, he was telling the world that he was in control, it was also a show of might.
Some people have accused the DP of starting early campaigns, but nobody is talking about how Raila and the Tanga Tanga team have been politicking by talking about the early campaigns.
Faced with defections, Ruto has publicly been present when three people joined Jubilee this year. On Friday, former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale joined the Tanga Tanga team, saying it was the team that would win the Presidency. Wajir West MP Ahmed Kolosh and Turkana governor Josephat Nanok have been roped into the team directly from Raila’s ODM.
Unlike his enemies who are talking only politics, Ruto is still the driving force of the Jubilee development agenda. Early this week, the DP signed a 10 billion water and sanitation programme with the World Bank in his office.
Wajir and Garissa counties will benefit from a Sh10bn World Bank financing for water and sanitation programmes, which will improve primary healthcare systems, boost hygiene and prevent water-borne diseases. pic.twitter.com/KKvFBDR6CX
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) May 16, 2019
While his detractors have chosen to malign his name with corruption allegations, Ruto has gone directly to the people and seek their support. No other Presidential candidate has worked with MCAs like he is doing. He understands that the Ward Reps are the first link with Wananchi.
The DP is also using the church as one of his key campaign pillars. And this has provided him with inroads into central Kenya without even the approval of the President.
These are interesting times to be a Kenyan.