With 130 days to the General Election, leading presidential candidates - Deputy President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga - are leaving nothing to chance in their hunt for votes.
The two, who have demonstrated great muscle in the mobilisation of supporters, have assembled formidable teams led by seasoned politicians. On his hand, DP Ruto picked seasoned politicians led by Kipruto Rono Arap Kirwa to lead his presidential campaigns while Raila picked moderate politicians who were once technocrats led by the Laikipia Governor, Ndiritu Muriithi.
On Tuesday, March 22, governor Muriithi and his Turkana counterpart, Josphat Nanok - a supporter of DP Ruto, appeared on Citizen TV’s News Night show where they were tasked with defending their respective candidates.
Nanok - who served as the chairman of the coveted Council of Governors - labelled the Raila Odinga camp as a state project, arguing that the former Prime Minister was being funded and facilitated by the Office of the President and the Ministry of Interior in his presidential bid.
The Turkana Governor, who won his seat on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party ticket, a party led by Raila, argued that this is what was causing unease in Ruto's camp.
“All organs of the government are supporting the Azimio la Umoja candidate. They are supposed to be neutral,” he argued. “This gives credence to the concerns the Deputy President has raised.”
“We have some ethnic parties that have been formed by members of the Cabinet to help consolidate the votes for the Azimio candidate. This should not be the case.”
However, Muriithi - who is the chairperson of the Raila Odinga Presidential Campaign - opined that Ruto’s camp had sensed defeat and was hiding in fear.
“We think that the reason our competitors are beginning to make the talk they are making now is because they sense defeat,” he stated.
Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza political faction has previously expressed fears that there were plans to rig the August 9 poll in favour of Raila.
However, Muriithi noted that the Azimio La Umoja team is composed of leaders who have always championed the strengthening of institutions including the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
“Our team has no concerns about rigging. We are a team that has fought for the strengthening of institutions. We want empowered institutions that will deliver on their mandate as such,” he added.
The two were also tasked to explain how each political faction will ensure the growth of the economy with Nanok noting that Kenya Kwanza will focus on the value chains to spur economic growth.
“Our focus on agricultural-led growth will invigorate the employment sector. When we support enterprise and provide resources, we will be able to create jobs for both professionals and non-professionals in the labour market,” remarked Nanok.
On his part, Muriithi stated that the Azimio La Umoja faction will focus more on manufacturing to create more jobs by giving incentives to entrepreneurs.
