Former Mukurweini Member of Parliament, Kabando Wa Kabando has sensationally claimed that Deputy President William Ruto has more support in the vote-rich Mt Kenya region than his closest rival Raila Odinga.
In an interview with NTV on Monday, February 21, the former legislator said the Jubilee deputy party leader has about 70 to 75 percent support in Nyeri County.
“If you do an analysis of a random survey, out of 100 people in Mt Kenya region, 70 percent of them or about 75 in Nyeri and areas surrounding Nyeri support Deputy President William Ruto,” Kabando said.
A few months ago, Kabando who has declared interest in the Nyeri county senate seat in the August 9, General Election claimed Ruto’s influence was growing because President Uhuru Kenyatta had neglected the people of the mountain who voted for him in the 2013 and 2017 presidential elections.
He showered William Ruto’s camp with praises saying that it resonates well on the ground suggesting the deputy president would easily beat opposition Chief Raila Odinga in a presidential contest.
“Today, you may not like William Ruto but his messaging is resonating on the ground,
“First, it is a failure by the president by not addressing issues in his own backyard. Secondly, those close to him are now parading themselves as a community to make demands,” he said then.
As the clock ticks towards the August 9, General Election, the presidential duel appears to be shaping into a two-horse race between William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga.
With the Mt Kenya region not fielding a serious presidential candidate, the region will decide who succeeds President Uhuru Kenyatta who is retiring in August due to its numbers.
Analysts say whoever garners the majority of the vote from the region stands a better chance of winning the presidency.
