This archive report was first published on 18 July 2020.
Deputy President William Ruto's camp is making a push to win over Raila Odinga's stronghold in Nyanza region, a key battleground in the 2022 presidential election.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic halted mass gatherings, Ruto and his team had toured virtually all regions to take their 2022 presidential campaign message, but had been slow to make inroads in Luo Nyanza, where Odinga enjoys unrivalled support.
However, last week, two ardent supporters of Ruto, Ndindi Nyoro and Oscar Sudi, made a discreet visit to Odinga's backyard in Bondo and Kisumu counties, meeting a section of youth leaders to mobilise support for Ruto in the region.
"We were hosted very well. We received a warm reception and definitely, we will surprise everyone (with our plans)," Nyoro said on Saturday.
The visit was part of a broader scheme targeting the region, with a meeting by a delegation from the region to Ruto's Sugoi home in Uasin Gishu County also mooted "as soon as the ban on political gatherings is lifted."
Ruto's plan for the region includes targeting the youth, women groups, and the church to reach out to the Nyanza populace and convince a significant number of voters to join his bandwagon.
"It (handshake) is meant just to allow President Uhuru Kenyatta work in peace," Nyoro said, adding that Kenyatta just wants to complete his two terms before handing over to Ruto as previously planned in Jubilee.
"We are not leaving any region behind. Even though ODM is the dominant party in Nyanza, we are telling Kenyans to watch this space. This is a region for the hustlers," Ruto's ally George Ayugi said.
