President Uhuru Kenyatta on his Saturday assured Rift Valley residents that he would support Deputy President William Ruto's 2022 bid and asked other leaders to stand with the DP when the time comes.
The President made the remarks following concerns that had been raised on whether he would support Ruto's presidential bid in 2022 if the region supported his re-election bid.
DP Ruto on his part assured his supporters that the president would honour their deal to support his 2022 presidential ambitions taking over after his second term.
Hitting out at his opponents specifically, Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto, the deputy argued the residents of Olenguruone to support Jubilee candidates and ignore the opposition candidates.
“I am second in position and close to power, so you should ignore a guy who is number five in the opposition,” he assured.
Jubilee visit to the region comes after fears over Raila’s growing popularity in the Rift Valley boosted largely by support from Governor Isaac Ruto.
According to findings by a research firm IPSOS survey, Odinga's popularity in the vote-rich region grew by 12 percent, rising from 20 to the current 32 percent.
Although President Uhuru Kenyatta is still leading with 63 percent, political analysts have warned that the Jubilee Party has reason to worry with support for the party declining in the region.
Several factors have been attributed to Odinga's growing popularity including the poor state of agriculture which has seen the region that largely depends on farming swing to support the Opposition.
To others, the high cost of living, inflation, food insecurity and unfulfilled promises by the government may have cost the Jubilee presidential candidate the tremendous support he enjoyed in the area.
Some analysts have also argued out that the region may not support the Head of State as they did in 2013 due to the suspicion that Mount Kenya region might not support Deputy President William Ruto in the 2022 elections.
Read Also: Heavy Security Deployed in Raila's Meeting
