Deputy President William Ruto has crafted a new strategy to ensure that his influence in the grassroots does not wane following the triumphant victory of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) in the counties stage.
According to a source privy to Ruto's campaign plans, the DP will ramp up tours in the Mt Kenya region, with the first rally happening in Gatanga on Sunday, February 28.
In the coming weeks, Ruto and his allies are set for a three-day tour of Meru county where he will launch the first United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party branch office in the upcountry region. Reports indicate that Ruto will tour about nine constituencies within the region.
"This will be the launchpad of his campaigns in Mt Kenya as we estimate not less than 90 percent of the residents are with him to complete the journey that we started in 2013," the source stated.
The DP is expected to preside over fundraisers, attend two church functions, hold roadside rallies, and then launch the party branch office.
Further, he is to hold several meetings with local delegations at the residence of Meru Senator Mithika Linturi. The senator has been at the forefront leading the local leaders in supporting the Ruto camp.
As the political arena shapes up, leaders are crafting strategies, in a seemingly gloves off approach, in order to further their agenda. DP Ruto and his Tanga Tanga brigade have been seeking support using the hustler narrative - in a bid to court the local mwananchi.
For instance, Ruto in his tour to the North Rift region criticized the BBI proponents for advancing tribal-based politics instead of focusing on the needs of Kenyans.
“These leaders meeting in Nairobi have nothing to offer Kenyans. They have no development record, the more reason they are embracing tribal politics to derail my presidential candidature. But they won’t succeed," Ruto stated.
Not to be left behind, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party Leader Raila Odinga has also unveiled a counter to Ruto's influence.
In what could be termed as an unusual tactic, Raila has embraced social media in his bid to publicize the BBI agenda and fire well-calculated shots at his political rivals.
Recently, the former Prime Minister also unveiled a new song to woo supporters to join the ODM party. The song consists of a mix of sheng and Gengetone beats, and calls out to the young generation to support the political party.
