Deputy President William Ruto has appointed a former ally of ODM party leader Raila Odinga to head his presidential campaigns as the country heads to the 2022 General election in nine months.
While attending a cultural event in Turkana County on Saturday, December 11, Ruto announced that outgoing governor Josephat Nanok would head his presidential campaigns as the Director-General.
The DP went ahead to ask the residents of Turkana to allow their governor to accompany him on his campaign trail as he plans to popularise the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party across the country.
"I want to thank you people of Turkana for allowing your governor to come and help me as the Director-General of my presidential campaigns so that he plans all the issues of the hustlers in our government in 2022,” Ruto announced.
On his part, Nanok stated that he had opted to join the UDA team claiming that Ruto was more likely to win the 2022 presidential elections. The Turkana governor also claimed that many people in Raila’s camp were being funded by the deep state.
“People have to ask themselves why I left the other side. For those who have joined the other team, they are joining the other team because of the money of the deep state,
“As we head to the polls, I want to assure you that the deep state is the Kenyan who have their voters card,” he stated.
Nanok was a close ally of Raila and he was elected as Tuakana governor in 2013 and 2017 through an ODM ticket. He was also a top-ranking member of the Orange party until he defected to the UDA party.
Additionally, Ruto allies advised their UDA aspirants to stick with the party claiming that they would be appointed to government by the DP. Led by outgoing Uasin Gishu Governor, Jackson Mandago, the UDA brigade urged aspirants to maintain peace during the monination process.
"When we go to the nominations of UDA, let us maintain peace by loving each other because the UDA government of Ruto is like a big forest. Since I was born, I have never seen a situation where there were many monkeys who could not fit into the forest,”
"If you do not get nominated, you will get a position in the government of Ruto," Mandago stated.
The sentiments by the Uasin Gishu governor come amidst claims of preferred candidates in some parts of the country. Among the counties where the UDA's unity will be tested is Kirinyaga where incumbent governor, Anne Waiguri is likely to face off with the woman representative, Purity Ngirici who has declared her interest in vying for the post next year.
