Close to 50 MPs from the Rift Valley and Mt Kenya region allied to Deputy President William Ruto yesterday used a chicken auction in Uasin Gishu county to drum up support for his 2022 presidential bid.

Led by Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua and his Naivasha counterpart Jane Kihara, the leaders said they will not be swayed by their critics into decamping from the Ruto’s camp ahead of 2022.

Speaking at Kambi Kuku on the Eldoret-Webuye highway, the venue of the annual chicken auction, Gachagua said as long as President Uhuru Kenyatta is not opposed to the DP’s candidature for the country’s top seat in the next general election, they will throw their weight behind Ruto’s bid.

“In the event, the President tells us not to support the DP’s candidature for 2022, we shall seek sufficient reasons…” said Gachagua.

MPs present included Kimani Ichung’wa (Kikuyu), Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu), Charity Kathambi (Njoro), Martha Wangari (Gilgil), Mwangi Gakuyu (Embakasi North) and Manyatta’s John Muchiri.

Others were Woman Representatives Liz Chelule (Nakuru), Gladys Shollei (Uasin Gishu), Catherine Wambilianga (Bungoma), and MPs Alice Wahome (Kandara)and Oscah Sudi (Kapseret).

The leaders vowed to oppose any move to use the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) to scuttle Ruto’s presidential bid, saying the scheme was bound to fail.

“DP is poised to win the country’s top seat come 2022 not just because of his popularity but also due to his development track record,” said Wahome.

The DP, who joined the leaders four hours late after arriving from Nairobi where he had attended a Cabinet meeting, steered clear of 2022 succession politics.

At the event where more than Sh11 million was raised from chicken sales, Ruto told the youth not to shy away from poultry farming as it was not only cost effective but has good returns.