Deputy President William Ruto has welcomed former NTV journalist Esther Mwihaki into his camp after a meeting on Wednesday, January 6, 2021.
Mwihaki, who was recently elected the Member of County Assembly (MCA) for Gaturi Ward in Murang'a County, was introduced to DP Ruto by Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria.
It was a good first day. 😊
— Kayla W. (@iamkaylixoxo) January 6, 2021
The DP said that her victory should motivate women and youth to seek elective leadership positions irrespective of their socio-economic status.
The former NTV correspondent floored Jubilee's candidate in the December by-election signalling danger for the ruling party.
She had vied on the People's Empowerment Party ticket whose party leader is Moses Kuria.
According to Kuria and his Kikuyu counterpart Kimani Ichung’wa, Jubilee was losing popularity in the Mt Kenya region due to the internal divisions triggered by the dalliance between President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga.
"Jubilee lost grip when it was hijacked by a cabal that has no regard for anyone. They made the party lose touch with the people as Jubilee is run like an exclusive private members club," Ichung'wa remarked during a recent interview with Kenyans.co.ke.
Although the ruling party appears to be facing an uphill task as the 2022 General Election nears, DP Ruto on the other, has no shortage of outfits to join as he seeks the presidency.
Smaller parties have been courting Ruto who had already stated that should the ruling party be untenable for him, he would not hesitate to abandon it.
Kuria’s PEP is among such outfits along with newly registered United Democratic Alliance (UDA), whose wheelbarrow symbol is associated with Ruto and The Service Party formed by former Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri.
Jubilee Deputy Secretary General Caleb Kositany, a close ally of the DP, told journalists that if the deputy president decides to leave Jubilee, he will not need to form another party, but use those that have been registered.
Ruto appears to have deviated from the party position, particularly during the Msambweni by-election in which he backed independent candidate Feisal Bader, despite Jubilee opting out of the contest.
Meanwhile, the upcoming Nairobi by-election is seen as yet another battleground, with DP Ruto expected to support a non-Jubilee candidate just like he did in Msambweni.
