Deputy President William Ruto seems to have shifted his focus from the public rallies to boardroom negotiations as he targets to woo governors to his side in readiness for the 2022 General Election.
According to a source at the Standard, DP Ruto has signed a pact with at least 14 governors who are in their final terms.
The list of governors comprises county bosses from Western, Rift Valley, Coast, Mt Kenya, Eastern and North Eastern regions.
Sources say the deal does not set out what positions the outgoing governors have been offered, but assured they would be part of the DP’s administration.
Other than the 14 who are serving their last terms, sources say another 13 first time governors are also part of the pact.
These are tipped to land reelection spots if the Deputy President backs them for a second term.
This means that a total of 27 county leaders, more than half of the county leadership and playing Ruto's ball, with their main assignment being that of mobilising support for Ruto on the ground.
Some sources say that a number of governors have asked for more time to mull over the invitation, before they can make their stand known. Others, however, have asked for time to focus on the Building Bridges Initiative.
Political pundits have been arguing that despite his perceived opposition to the BBI, Ruto stands to gain from an expanded Executive as proposed.
The creation of more positions provides the DP with better chips to negotiate ways of collaborating with other leaders which he will use to strengthen his presidential bid.
“The DP is likely to benefit from an expanded Executive because he will be in a position to reach out to more leaders to build a coalition together and share responsibilities bolstering his State House bid,” Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa explained in a past interview.
Meanwhile, President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leaders have assembled the team which is expected to give the BBI report a smooth sail in Parliament.
