As the 2022 General Election nears, Deputy President William Ruto appears keen on the choice of the people to speak at his rallies and convey the intended message to the public without attracting negative energy.
In most of his recent public rallies, Ruto has been without a host of his key political allies known for divisive public outbursts that have for long been tainting his reputation.
Some of the notable Tanga Tanga foot soldiers that appear to have been tamed in the DP’s public rallies include Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, Emurua Dikirr MP Johanna Ngeno, Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu), Senators Samson Cherargei (Nandi), Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet) and Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho) among others.
These have been Ruto’s ardent supporters and defenders for the last four years when the DP broke ranks with the president.
More often than not, the aforementioned leaders have been accused of fanning violence through incitement, hate speech and threats.
For instance, in September 2020, Sudi was arrested and charged with hate speech and offensive conduct after making utterances that targeted President Uhuru Kenyatta and his mother, Mama Ngina Kenyatta.
The youthful lawmaker accused the first family of frustrating leaders from other communities and perpetuating themselves in power.
Around the same time, Ngeno was also arrested and charged with related offenses.
The Emurua Dikirr lawmaker tore into Uhuru’s family for allegedly frustrating Ruto’s political ambitions and running the country “as if it was a family property”.
“You are not Kenya and Kenya is not Kenyatta’s or Mama Ngina’s land. This land belongs to 47 million Kenyans and you cannot run it as you wish,” Ngeno said of the president’s family.
In December 2019, Senator Cherargei faced hate speech charges after warning critics of Ruto against hatching a plot to stop his State House bid.
He was recorded saying: “We are marking and profiling them (critics of Ruto) na tutawashughulikia (we will deal with them)”.
Nyoro has also been a guest of the state several times for making inflammatory statements.
Murkomen and Cheruiyot have equally been making such remarks in public although they have never been charged.
Opponents and critics of Ruto have been using these provocative remarks by his allies to portray him as a temperamental leader surrounded by “dangerous people”.
It is out of this realization, perhaps, that the second in command has decided to shield these leaders from the public limelight and assign them behind-the-scene roles.
Nakuru-based political analyst and lawyer Ken Kirui opines that Ruto is keen on cutting the image of a national leader hence the need to disassociate himself from diehard supporters from his backyard.
“Most of his (Ruto) allies who have been marking inflammatory remarks come from his Rift Valley backyard, and when you look at the deputy president’s plan from outside, he appears keen on building a national image. As such, it becomes necessary to shed off cronies from your backyard and present yourself as a candidate loved across the board. You best demonstrate this by hanging out with people from outside your community, that’s what Ruto is doing now,” opined Kirui.
In most of his rallies of late, Ruto is often accompanied by politicians from Mt Kenya, Western, and the Coast region.
Key speakers now include Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua, Nyali’s Mohamed Ali, Sylvanus Osoro (Mugirango South), Senators Susan Kihika (Nakuru), Irungu Kang’ata (Murang’a), and ex-senators Boni Khalwale (Kakamega) and Hassan Omar (Mombasa).
On the other hand, ODM leader Raila Odinga also appears to be applying the same strategy in shaping his 2022 State House bid.
Aware of the power of communication and the impact the communicator has in ensuring clarity and good reception of the message by the audience, Raila has started limiting airtime for some of his staunch supporters and defenders.
Unlike Ruto, Raila has been choosing specific events where some of his rabble-rousers can speak.
For instance, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has been speaking in youth forums but left out discussions involving elders and businessmen.
Suba South MP Millie Odhiambo, a strong critic of Ruto and defender of the former premier, has been missing in action.
Similarly, the likes of Opiyo Wandanyi, George Aladwa, and TJ Kajwang have been kept off the stage.
Frequent speakers in Raila’s functions include Senator James Orengo, Junet Mohamed (Sina East MP), Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay Women rep), and governors Hassan Joho (Mombasa), Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega), and James Ongwae (Kisii).
