How Ruto’s Growing Prominence in Mt. Kenya Has left ‘UhuRaila’ cards in Disarray!

For a long period of time, Mt. Kenya region has been known for throwing its weight behind one of their own whenever the country goes for a general election.

However, with Uhuru’s term coming to a close in 2022, this system of voting is highly expected to change having in mind that the rich vote region is now divided into two, one section supporting the Deputy President William Ruto (Tangatanga movement) and the other one supporting Uhuru Raila handshake (Kieleweka movement)

With all these unfolding however, Deputy President William Ruto seems to be the major beneficiary. His way of politics has won him friends and the hearts of many followers from the central region who feel like their friend Ruto deserves to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta especially after his Overwhelming support for Uhuru in 2017.

In fact, Many political analysts are of the opinion that Uhuru Kenyatta is fast losing the grip of his home yard to his deputy Ruto who has focused on building loyalty and followers in the region.

In Murang’a, for example, Mr. Ruto has three loyal Members of Parliament who defend him under the Tangatanga group, while four MPs are under the opposing Kieleweke, which is bitterly opposed to his presidential bid.

In Kiambu, Governor Ferdinand Waititu and MPs Kimani Ichung’wa (Kikuyu), Jonah Mburu (Lari) and Githua Wamacukuru (Kabete) are the DP’s lieutenants, while Woman Rep Gathoni Muchomba and Kiambaa MP Paul Koinange have affiliated themselves with President Kenyatta.

In Nyeri, Governor Mutahi Kahiga, Woman Rep Rahab Mukami and Mr. Rigathi Gachagua are pro-Ruto while Mr Ngunjiri Wambugu (Nyeri Town) and Kieni MP Kanini Kega are in President Kenyatta’s camp.

All these Tangatanga associated leaders in central are the reason why Ruto’s star is shining brighter each day in the region. They are the same members who are using all ‘weapons’ at their disposal to frustrate Uhuru Raila handshake movement.

Their rebellious ‘works’ are paying off pretty well since this has forced President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition leader Raila Odinga to postpone their visit to Mt Kenya region to June.

According to sources close to the two leaders, the meeting which was scheduled to take place between April and May has been deferred in what political pundits interpret as a response to the growing rebellion by some Central Kenya leaders who have transferred their allegiance from the President to his deputy William Ruto.

Mr. Ruto has made numerous visits to Central region, cementing ties with some key leaders in the process.

Interestingly, leaders allied to Mr. Ruto are not privy to UhuRaila tour which was to take place this Month. Maragua MP Mary Waithira, a staunch Ruto supporter, said she has just heard rumours about the meeting.

“We are just hearing from the corridors that Mr. Kenyatta and Mr Odinga are planning to tour the region, and we are treating the news as rumours,” she said.

Pundits have associated the delayed tour with the growing popularity of Mr. Ruto in the region, speculating that the ground might be too hostile for Mr Kenyatta and Mr Odinga.

Mr James Kamau, a political analyst, said the two leaders could be buying time for the rebellion to simmer down.

“We have been witnessing leaders from Mr Ruto’s faction from Mt Kenya’s region, which is the political bedrock of Mr Kenyatta, accuse the President of neglecting the region; while they accuse Mr Odinga of hatching a plot to divide the ruling party, a move that could have informed them to postpone the meeting,” Mr Kamau

If this Rebellion against the Building Bridges Initiative continuous to grow, President Kenyatta will be forced to re-think his move and walk the people’s way of choice. Clever Uhuru has however stayed silent on the issue and this has helped him a lot implement on his Top Agendas.