This archive report was first published on 13 October 2019.
President Uhuru's spirited attempt to contain DP William Ruto's influence in Mt Kenya region has been gaining momentum over the past couple of weeks.
As Ruto's hate campaign against Raila Odinga loses steam, residents are increasingly looking for a politics of issues rather than hate, which has made Ruto's strategy stale.
Despite Ruto's inroads in Central after 2013, including the rigging of many of his handpicked loyalists, Uhuru and Raila are planning a counterattack to finish Ruto in the region.
With the BBI report due soon, it is expected that Uhuru and Raila will hit the road promoting the report and its referendum recommendations, starting from Central where the reception will give a glimpse into the future.
Successful rallies in Central could spell the end of Raila 2022 in the region, while a failure could lead to a political war ahead.
Dividing the region evenly with Ruto's support would suffice for Raila, as he can make up the rest elsewhere, particularly in Rift Valley where Ruto is also trying to lock Raila out.
By positioning himself as the only one who can protect Kikuyus and their interests in Rift Valley, Ruto is trying to lock out Raila.
