Deputy President Dr William Ruto is still pushing hard to have his road to Statehouse smooth and easy. The DP seems to be banking on vote rich Western Kenya region using several local leaders who are to influence the voters.
But is he relying on leaders who can really influence the masses? Former Kakamega senator Dr Boni Khalwale was recently recruited to DP Ruto’s Jubilee Party.
@IsaacRutoGov ~ @KBonimtetezi is pushing TangaTanga issues in Western.
He used to speak so well in parliament, I don’t know what happened to him since he joined TangaTanga #KTNPointblank @TonyGachoka pic.twitter.com/9ljBmBgNn9
— ktn (@KTNKenya) May 22, 2019
Other allies the DP is relying on from the region are Mumias East MP Ben Washiali, Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa, Sirisia MP John Walukhe and Webuye East MP Dan Wanyama.
But how influential are they? Former Bomet Governor Isaac Rutto has told the DP to forget the presidency if he banks on Mt Kenya votes as the region is likely to abandon him at the last minute.
The Chama Cha Mashinani party leader who was speaking on an interview with KTN News’ talk show dubbed KTNPointBlank said the region was known for political betrayal and would play all sorts of “political games” before ditching him in the run up to 2022 General Election.
@IsaacRutoGov ~ We don’t know if Jubilee will be there in the next 2-3 years.
Its’ owners like Murathe are talking differently. I have not heard from Uhuru Kenyatta that he supports Ruto’s presidency#KTNPointblank @TonyGachoka pic.twitter.com/EZRkDNcOdF— ktn (@KTNKenya) May 22, 2019
He said for Dr Ruto to win, he must form serious political alliances with influential leaders from other communities.
He said Ruto should read the signs of betrayal, citing Uhuru’s decision to keep quiet about whether he will rally the region to back him or not after completing his second term.
He discredited some of the Ruto allies in Western, stating that National Assembly Majority Whip Benjamin Washiali and Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa have no capacity to deliver the region.Ruto said with a divided Mt Kenya, the DP cannot succeed Uhuru even if he was to get 100 per cent backing of Rift Valley.
He gave the example of Uhuru who came a distant second after retired President Mwai Kibaki in 2002. Uhuru was endorsed by retired President Daniel Moi and managed a huge backing of voters from the vote-rich Rift Valley.
“Remember Uhuru got a huge support of Rift Valley votes and part of central but failed. If Central is going to the election split, then he should say goodbye to the presidency,” he said.
He said Ruto will have to go for the political backing of big wigs such as Mudavadi and Wetang’ula.
“I have hardly seen him with Mudavadi or Wetang’ula. I only see him with Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka and I am yet to be convinced about his political influence. He will need to look for people with capacity in those areas. It is the communities that will coalesce around his bid. I would like him to deal with the political leaders of party’s dominant in those areas,” he said.
@IsaacRutoGov Ruto talks about Ruto making in-roads in Western Kenya.
He is yet to be convinced about @Ken_Lusaka ‘s political weight in that region#KTNPointblank @TonyGachoka pic.twitter.com/omhRJDwxkl
— ktn (@KTNKenya) May 22, 2019