Is team William Ruto right to put the Country in a political mood with elections still years to come?
Leaders allied to deputy President William Ruto see no wrong in engaging in early political campaigns even after being accused on putting the country at a standstill because of engaging in early campaigns through their tangatanga movement.
National Assembly Majority Whip Benjamin Washiali, a close Ruto ally, defended early campaigns, saying that as leaders they must direct voters how to vote in 2022.
“You cannot stop me from telling our people what to do in 2022 but DP Ruto is not campaigning but just moving across the country to inspect Jubilee projects,” Washiali said yesterday at Parliament Buildings.
Washiali also downplayed perceived rifts in the ruling Jubilee Party saying there is no MoU compelling the President to support Ruto in 2022. He said the party will conduct nominations to decide who will fly its flag.
“Immediately we formed one party called Jubilee, any MoU that existed ceased to be. It is now members of the party who will decide who will be their flagbearer for the 2022 General Election, he said.
Women leaders across the political divide lashed out at leaders engaging in early campaigns, warning that they will polarise the country.
Led by Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru and Homa Bay Woman Representative Gladys Wanga, they said they will visit the 47 counties to preach peace. They said voters should reject leaders hell-bent on plunging the country into divisive 2022 succession politics.
Under the umbrella group Embrace — Women Building Bridges for Kenya, they supported efforts by the President and Raila to unite the country.
“We stand with them in rejecting early campaigns that are polarising this county and opening wounds when elections are more than three years away,” Waiguru said.
“We embrace inclusivity and reject politics that pits tribe against tribe, region against region and party against party. We call on Kenyans to embrace the new Kenya and reject those who want to steal our dreams as a nation.”
Wanga said the new outfit bringing together women governors, senators, MPs, women representatives and MCAs from both Jubilee and Opposition parties. She said they would hold a national Embrace convention in Nairobi and share views with the Building Bridges Initiative.