As the race to statehouse gains momentum, Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto and opposition chief Raila Odinga are seen to be scrambling for a share of the vote-rich Mt. Kenya’s region.
With less than 15 months to the General Election, it will not be a walk in the park for either of them to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta if they do not tap into the important votes from Central Kenya.
The region is known to have huge bargaining power when it comes to presidential position but is yet to field their candidate, a move that is giving Ruto and Raila ample time to frequent the region.
Deputy President William Ruto is expected to meet leaders from Central Kenya over this weekend to cement his presence in the region and have a slice of votes.
The 11-team member led by The Service Party leader Mwangi Kiunjuri and economist David Ndii is expected to negotiate on behalf of the region.
“Two weeks ago, the leaders met at the home of Mathira Member of Parliament Rigathi Gachagua where the committee was formed,” a source from Ruto’s camp told Daily Nation.
Ruto’s meeting with leaders from the Mt. Kenya region comes just hours after his competitor Raila Odinga on Friday, April 30, held a meeting with the Kikuyu council of elders at his official residence in Karen, where he shared a meal with elders as he tried to convince them to drum up support for his presidential bid.
“I enjoyed a thoughtful discussion at my home over a meal with members of the Kikuyu Council of Elders led by their Chair Wachira Kiago. A conversation about moving our Country forward not on the patchy path of tribal lines that have and continue to occasion annihilation,” he said after the meeting.
The elders to Raila home were led by former presidential candidate Peter Kenneth who is believed to be angling for a big political position in next year’s election.
Ruto in a televised interview two weeks ago said that Raila is the strongest competitor he has in the forthcoming presidential election.
