Ruto, allies new strategy to counter Raila’s candidature

Deputy President William Ruto has identified new strategies to counter ODM leader Raila Odinga’s candidature as the two prepare for a fierce battle in next year’s elections.

Among the strategies the DP and his team intend to employ is to paint Raila as a state project following his backing by President Uhuru Kenyatta and Mt Kenya leaders who hold sway in the ruling administration.

Yesterday, his allies continued to tag Raila as a state project, saying Ruto’s candidature was a people’s project.

“They want to give us a project for the President and their project for the Mombasa governor. But ours is a people’s project. That’s Deputy President William Ruto. We will continue looking for votes for Ruto,” said Nyali MP Mohammed Ali who accompanied the DP to a church service at Power in the World Christian Church in Nyali.

Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa backed her counterpart asking President Uhuru Kenyatta not to use state resources to force Kenyans to vote for his preferred candidate.

“We love our President. He has every right to support whoever he wants and we will not oppose that. But kindly don’t force someone on us because as it is now, it is like he is forcing all the public servants to support his candidate. We have decided to support Ruto and we must be protected so we exercise this right,” she said.

The DP’s team will seek to borrow from the 2002 script when a united opposition waged a hugely successful campaign by branding Uhuru, the Kanu candidate, as a Moi project.

Uhuru had been picked by President Daniel arap Moi to succeed him but was defeated by the Mwai Kibaki-led opposition alliance that brought together leading political figures including Raila, the late Kijana Wamalwa, Charity Ngilu, Kalonzo Musyoka and the late Prof George Saitoti, among others.

The DP’s team will also present Raila as a candidate who cannot be trusted to keep promises following the collapse of the National Super Alliance (Nasa) after his Handshake with the President in March 2018.

The alliance brought together Raila and opposition leaders Musalia Mudavadi (Amani National Congress), Kalonzo (Wiper) and Moses Wetang’ula (Ford-Kenya) who have since fallen out.

Another key area the DP’s team will seek to exploit is Raila’s alleged role in destroying Kanu before the 2002 elections, Narc prior to the 2007 polls and also in the on-going Ford-Kenya’s troubles.

The renewed quest to paint Raila as a state project has been hastened after top government officials largely endorsed him during the Azimio la Umoja convention at Kasarani last Friday.

The onslaught was evident on Monday when the DP hosted a delegation from Laikipia, led by Woman Rep Catherine Waruguru, and his allies took on the former premier for being a project of the State’s mandarins.

They dwelt at length on why Kenyans should be wary of any presidential candidate with the backing of the “deep state” and groups with vested interests.

“Kenyans won’t vote for projects. They will vote for those who have an agenda for the country,” said Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah.

He was supported by Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa who said Kenyans would not vote for those who had the support of “billionaires” but a candidate with common people’s interests.

“Kenyans want to elect leaders of their choice without being intimidated to support candidates who have been endorsed by certain individuals who want to protect their interests,” said Jumwa.

The DP agreed with them, saying Kenyans will not be forced to support leaders contrary to their wishes. “Kenyans want to choose leaders of their choice,” he said.

After the Kasarani event where it became clear Raila would likely be the beneficiary of the State machinery in his fifth quest for State House, the DP’s camp identified this as a weak point they would exploit to sway the tide in their favour.

Top government officials led by Cabinet Secretaries Peter Munya (Agriculture), Eugene Wamalwa (Defence) and Sicily Kariuki (Water) attended the event where Raila declared his candidature for next election’s presidential race.

Former National Assembly Leader of Majority Aden Duale said it was clear that Raila’s candidature had been created by the “deep state”, adding it would not have any impact on the DP’s popularity ahead of the polls. He also said Raila was known for destroying coalitions for own benefit.

“We know Raila’s trademark is destruction of coalitions. It is in his DNA. He did it with Kanu before 2002, he did the same thing with Narc, Nasa and now Jubilee. It will happen with Azimio,” Duale told People Daily.

The Azimio Movement leader’s dalliance with the government since 2018 has also been identified as ready fodder to malign his candidature for the DP’s team that is preparing for a tough battle after losing key allies to Raila’s camp.

Running mate

Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua, who has been mentioned as one of the front-runners in the search of Ruto’s running mate, said Raila had forgotten to share the cake after he was co-opted into government after the Handshake.

“Before he was claiming he could not help because he was not in government but after the Handshake he has taken all the goodies to Kisumu.  This is why he has lost support in Ukambani and Western because the people there are blaming him for not sharing what he got from the government,” said Gachagua.

Those in Raila’s camp, however, poured cold water on the State project tag, saying the former premier’s bid was gaining traction every day, adding that no amount of malice will stop his ascent to the top seat.

“The only viable option, for now, is the one spearheaded by Raila. Our community interests have been received well by Azimio leadership. During the Azimio event in Kasarani, Raila responded to issues we presented in Kapenguria positively and that if he wins the presidency, he will prioritise in his government,” said Pokot South MP David Pkosing.

Munya also dismissed the opponents of the Azimio project, saying it was too huge for anyone to stand on its way to victory.

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