Inside DP Ruto’s Hustler System

Deputy President William Ruto has a liking for youthful leaders, as he himself proclaimed that he is a hustler and a son of a peasant. His star has shown from being a chicken seller to holding one of the most prestigious and powerful offices in Kenya.

His style is entangled around winning the support of the youth, who he empowers and turns their fortunes around, witnessed through Jubilee Nominated Senator Millicent Omanga and 2019 Kibra aspirant McDonald Mariga, as he works towards achieving his 2022 presidential ambitions. 

The DP also has several young leaders aligned to him, such as Elgeyo Marakwet Senator, Kipchumba Murkomen, Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, his South Mugirango, Kikuyu and Kimilili, Kapsaret counterparts Sylvanus Osoro, Kimani Ichungwa and Didmus Barasa, Oscar Sudi respectively. He also won the loyalty of several women leaders who came together to form the Inua Mama faction, spearheaded by Kandara MP Alice Wahome

In 2019, Inua Mama drummed up support for Ruto while attacking his political rivals, Kenyatta and AU envoy Raila Odinga

On Saturday, October 26, political analyst Herman Manyora, through his YouTube page stated that DP Ruto had hatched a hustler system in Kenya and the wave was uniting Kenya against DP Ruto’s opponents. 

According to Manyora, the hustlers have been oppressed by joblessness and the Chinese invasion of Kenya's economic sphere. This wind of change frustrated Kenyans whose pain and suffering was to unite them against BBI before it’s launch. 

“Ruto created the hustler identity for himself, which would eliminate the tribal voting pattern in Kenya,” Manyora argued. 

The DP also allegedly went behind Kenyatta to woo Mt Kenya leaders and amass support in a region he knows will be one of the crucial determinants in the 2022 elections. His antics in the area split Jubilee party and further split Mt Kenya. This became a pain the flesh for Kenyatta and his allies in the region.

An article by Daily Nation on October 23, 2019, stated that the DP had reportedly marked the entire country into three colours depending on the region's political favour towards him. Red represents Luo Nyanza where the DP knows he has a minimal following, Green represents the Rift Valley and Central Kenya where he believes are behind him. Coast, Western, Ukambani and Gusiiland are the battleground zones that if the DP continues to visit with a development agenda, are likely to sway to his favour.

"I have fought hard and put my political career on the line. I continue to resist imposed endorsement of Ruto in Mt Kenya region in 2022, and to ensure that Kenyatta is not undermined during his tenure," Nyeri Town MP, Ngunjiri Wambugu, an anti-Ruto politician posted on his Facebook page on Wednesday, December 11. 

Ruto further came up with a criterion through which he would amass support from churches and other religious organisations. In 2019, he attended several harambees, donating large sums of money. Being a devoted Christian, he also built a church at his posh Karen residence.

His donations irked a number of his opponents, led by Suba South MP John Mbadi who wanted to initiate a bill in parliament to carp Ruto’s donations. 

"Hawawezi kututisha hawa. Na mjaribu kufanya bidii ndiyo msikuwe mnaongea mambo ya bure (They can't threaten us. They should work harder so that they can speak on issues that make sense),” Ruto hit back in December 2018.

However, Martin Andati, a political analyst, argued that Ruto’s hustler antic was a controversial idea as it wasn’t right for him to gang up struggling Kenyans against the government.

“How can someone say that Ruto by being a hustler, gangs ups Kenyans against the government. Isn’t he the government?” Andati wondered.