Deputy President William Ruto has launched a vigorous campaign to snatch some of the most influential Mt Kenya leaders as the battle for control of Mt Kenya politics intensify.
This comes barely a week after Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu warned that the Jubilee party could lose more valuable players to rivals including UDA, an outfit heavily associated with Ruto if urgent measures to salvage the ‘collapsing’ party are not instituted.
Ruto’s think tanks in the central region are reportedly working to fish Thika MP Patrick Wainaina from Jubilee ahead of the 2022 General Election.
Wainaina, who has already announced his intention to unseat Kiambu governor James Nyoro, while speaking to the Nation said he was ready and willing to work with DP Ruto.
“I have no problem working with deputy president William Ruto for the benefit of the people I represent in parliament. He (Ruto) is a national leader and as leaders we make decisions based on the wishes of the people who elected us” Wainaina said.
Apart from Wainaina, Ruto’s camp is also reported to be in the process of securing the services of Ruiru MP Simon Kang’ara along with Biashara ward MCA Elijah Njoroge who is the current leader of the Jubilee faction in Kiambu County.
It is believed that despite the fact that the two are less known when it comes to national politics, Kang’ara and Njoroge are seasoned politicians who command a huge following not only in Kiambu but across the region.
The battle for control of Mt Kenya politics is inspired by the fact the region has the highest number of voters according to the IEBC register, prompting all presidential hopefuls to scramble for a share of the vote-rich region.
The move comes just days after Kiambu County woman Representative Gathoni Wamuchomba and Githunguri MP Gabriel Kogo transferred their loyalty from Uhuru’s kieleweke to Ruto’s Hustler narrative.
With less than 13 months to the next General Election, Ruto has been seen camping in the central region in an effort to finish President Uhuru Kenyatta’s political dominance in the region.
Analysts say Ruto, who has already announced his intention to succeed Uhuru Kenyatta has managed to split the GEMA region in less than one year, something that late President Daniel Moi failed to achieve in 24 years.
