The Kikuyu Council of Elders wants Deputy President William Ruto to retire together with Uhuru Kenyatta when his term expires in 2022.
But the DPs inner circle has been working day and night to ensure the Man clinches the top seat in the land come 2022.
Amidst concerns that the populous Mount Kenya region might not back his bid, Deputy President William Ruto’s camp has come up with an elaborate plan B to ensure that he succeeds President Uhuru Kenyatta.
According to Sunday Nation, the DP is focused on messaging and has recently splashed millions in the media, acquiring stake in a local media house that publishes a daily newspaper.
He has also acquired several vernacular radio stations and a television station is in the offing to ensure that his message reaches all corners of the country.
At the center of his strategy is a financial war-chest to sponsor an elaborate campaign. That the DP is a man of able means is not in doubt.
The DP’s camp is also keen on having a foothold in all counties and has gone ahead to court county chiefs as a fall-back plan should the populous Mount Kenya region fail to support his bid.
His camp has also taken advantage to ensure that opposition leader Raila Odinga and Hassan Joho who has expressed interest in the 2022 race are left isolated. To this end, a charm offensive launched by the DP’s camp has seen vocal leaders ditch Odinga and Joho in favour of the DP.
His latest conquest is the Coast region where his erstwhile political rivals Kilifi governor Amason Kingi and Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa have warmed up to him.
In areas where he cannot secure support, a cunning strategy of planting and supporting his allies in pole positions to elbow out those perceived to be a threat to his bid or toning down the competition.
Case in point is when his ally Kipchumba Murkomen and Kimani Ichungwa attended a church service in Nyeri town in june, with a clear indication that Mr. David Maina is the chosen point-man to elbow out area MP Ngunjiri Wambugu who has been a vocal critic of the DP.
In his Rift Valley home-turf, the DP’s camp is keen on extinguishing KANU.
To this end, concerted efforts were made to ensure that KANU’s candidate in last year’s Baringo South parliamentary contest Mr Charles Kamuren defected to Jubilee, leaving the party with no candidate to field in the by election and eventually pulling out of the race.
KANU is dead! Floored in its own bedroom. What fuckery! Charles Kamuren(JP) won the Baringo South MP by-election beating Cynthia Kipchilat of Maendeleo Chap Chap) . Did KANU even field a candidate?
And you say Gideon has a chance in 2022?
— Mukami (@Mukami_Mungai) August 18, 2018
If indeed JUBILEE is popular in Baringo, why did you settle for a KANU Nominated MCA Charles Kamuren? Isn’t that an own goal? https://t.co/bjjFUzDRs3
— The KANU Party (@KANUParty_ke) June 13, 2018
Despite frequent calls to shelve politics and focus on development, the DP appears keen on an early start and has been traversing the country with politics featuring prominently.
His forays have attracted the attention of President Uhuru Kenyatta who noted that he has been roaming around the country with the now famous ‘kutangatanga’ remarks.