This archive report was first published on 19 June 2020.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has pulled off another surprise in the run-up to the 2022 elections, this time by consolidating his support in western Kenya. The move comes just hours after he secured the backing of two key politicians, Kalonzo Musyoka and Isaac Ruto.
On Thursday, the President directed Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i to host a consultative meeting with leaders from the five counties in the western region to discuss development projects. This decision is seen as a strategic move to take charge of the region's politics and potentially limit the influence of his deputy, William Ruto.
According to Education Chief Administrative Secretary Zack Kinuthia, the President's aim is to bring economic freedom to the region, rather than seeking political liberation. Kinuthia stated, 'The President is of the correct position that Mt Kenya region is not in need of political and sovereignty liberation since those two have already been won. Rather, what is needed in the area is economic freedom.'
With the President's move, Deputy Ruto's strategy of using projects to win over voters may be severely impacted. Ruto had been using the 'projects route' to make inroads in various parts of the country, earning him the nickname 'Tangatanga.'
However, with the President now taking charge of project completions, Ruto will need to find new ways to sell his agenda in the run-up to the 2022 elections. The situation is further complicated by the fact that 16 members of Ruto's party were recently kicked out of their positions in the National Assembly.
As expected, pro-Ruto MPs did not attend the meeting held at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development in Nairobi, amid reports that they had been asked to stay away.
