Details of Ruto’s plan B should Mt. Kenya region abandon him in 2022

janet ndila

June 17, 2018 10:24 AM

DP Ruto leaving nothing to chance in his bid to succeed President Kenyatta

Amidst concerns that the populous Mount Kenya region might not back his bid, Deputy President William Ruto’s camp has come up with an elaborate plan B to ensure that he succeeds President Uhuru Kenyatta.

According to Sunday Nation, the DP is focused on messaging and has recently splashed millions in the media, acquiring stake in a local media house that publishes a daily newspaper.

He has also acquired several vernacular radio stations and a television station is in the offing to ensure that his message reaches all corners of the country.

At the center of his strategy is a financial war-chest to sponsor an elaborate campaign. That the DP is a man of able means is not in doubt.

The DP’s camp is also keen on having a foothold in all counties and has gone ahead to court county chiefs as a fall-back plan should the populous Mount Kenya region fail to support his bid.

His camp has also taken advantage to ensure that opposition leader Raila Odinga and Hassan Joho who has expressed interest in the 2022 race are left isolated. To this end, a charm offensive launched by the DP's camp has seen vocal leaders ditch Odinga and Joho in favour of the DP.

His latest conquest is the Coast region where his erstwhile political rivals Kilifi governor Amason Kingi and Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa have warmed up to him.

In areas where he cannot secure support, a cunning strategy of planting and supporting his allies in pole positions to elbow out those perceived to be a threat to his bid or toning down the competition.

Case in point is last week when his ally Kipchumba Murkomen and Kimani Ichungwa attended a church service in Nyeri town, with a clear indication that Mr. David Maina is the chosen point-man to elbow out area MP Ngunjiri Wambugu who has been a vocal critic of the DP.

In his Rift Valley home-turf, the DP’s camp is keen on extinguishing KANU.

To this end, concerted efforts were made to ensure that KANU’s candidate in last year’s Baringo South parliamentary contest Mr Charles Kamuren defected to Jubilee, leaving the party with no candidate to field in the by election and eventually pulling out of the race.

Despite frequent calls to shelve politics and focus on development, the DP appears keen on an early start and has been traversing the country with politics featuring prominently.

His forays have attracted the attention of President Uhuru Kenyatta who noted that he has been roaming around the country with the now famous ‘kutangatanga’ remarks.

janet ndila