Deputy President William Ruto’s Central Kenya trips raise eyebrows

Deputy President William Ruto and Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti during the commissioning of a grain facility in Embu, recently. Ruto has visited the Mt Kenya region more than 20 times in the last few months. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

Leaders in Mt Kenya are divided on Deputy President William Ruto’s numerous trips to the region.

Ruto has visited the region more than 20 times in the last few months, a move interpreted by some leaders as a show of genuine interest.

Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi, a close ally of the DP, believes Ruto has demonstrated he is a friend of the region responding to their needs when called upon.

“He contributes in his individual capacity during fund-raisers and also as a representative of the Government. We shall reciprocate his generosity when called upon because he is our friend,” said Mr Linturi.

Gichugu legislator Njogu Barua said Ruto’s trips are meant to assure the TNA party of the United Republican Party’s (URP) support.

“As much as the DP has made efforts to endear himself to the region, these frequent visits have at least served as an assurance that URP is solidly behind the President and the Jubilee coalition,” said Barua.

But according to former Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara, the DP is openly on the campaign trail. “He has already said he will run in 2022 and he needs to progressively build a support base and tactfully galvanise the Kalenjin vote in case he is betrayed,” said Imanyara.

But he told the DP to be wary of believing he was succeeding in wooing a very “hypocritical political block”.

“He should always bear in mind what happened to President Moi when he campaigned in the Kipipiri by-elections in 1995. They will chop the goodies when offered, but give no guarantee that they would keep the promise,” said Imanyara.

Like Imanyara, former MP Wanyiri Kihoro also believes the DP is already campaigning, seven years ahead of 2022. “If I were to advise him, I would tell him to concentrate on settling in office and doing something to empower our poorest people and the youth,” said Kihoro.

He also warned that the infatuation with the Jubilee stronghold could be counter-productive and robbing the coalition an opportunity to expand its popularity in “hostile areas”. “They need to branch out to areas where they got little votes so that by 2022, Ruto will have wider acceptability outside Jubilee strongholds,” said Kihoro.

Imenti South MP Kathuri Murungi, who also chairs the Meru parliamentary group, sees nothing sinister in the visits. He said the DP has also been visiting other parts of the country.

“This region voted entirely for the Jubilee alliance and it means the area cannot be ignored by our principals,” said Murungi. “He deputises the President and, therefore, as far as I am concerned, we should be viewing him as his right-hand man. He does not carry personal messages in the visits but those of Jubilee.”

beatification ceremony

A look at the DP’s engagements in the area since the year started shows he has officiated projects, attended a rally or a harambee. In Meru County, for example, Ruto attended the homecoming party of its woman representative Florence Kajuju.

He also opened the Meru investment conference on June 25 and was the chief guest at the Kenya Methodist University graduation on July 18.

He has been to neighbouring Embu and Tharaka Nithi once in each county this year. In Tharaka Nithi, he was chief guest at a harambee for Kanthanje Secondary School in Chuka Igambangombe in June. On Monday, he launched the Kenya Cereals Enhancement Programme and attended the handing-over of the Grain Storage Facility in Siakago to the Embu County government.

In Kirinyaga, the DP was chief guest at a harambee for ACK Kianyaga Parish after attending a Sunday service led by Bishop Joseph Kibuchua on July 12.

He visited Murang’a twice in May. He commissioned the Greystone Concrete Post Factory in Murang’a South owned by business tycoon Peter Munga and then later, the Kiguru Water Project in Kiharu Constituency.

In Nyeri, he was at the official opening of Mukurwe-ini Technical Training Institute at Gikondi, accompanied by Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua and local MPs. Earlier, on March 19, he had joined Archbishop Peter Kairu and other leaders at the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of Christ the King Seminary in the county.

VOTE-RICH COUNTY

He also conducted a harambee for Nyeri ACK Cathedral on June 21 and attended the ceremony for the beatification of Sister Irene Stefani “Nyaatha” with President Uhuru Kenyatta on May 24.

But there is no other place where Ruto has been to more times than vote-rich Kiambu County. Since the start of the year, the DP has been to Kiambu for public functions at least eight times.

In March, he inspected Kiambu CDF projects and returned there in May to inspect the construction of a polytechnic. He has also held fund-raisers for Kagwe Girls in Lari on July and Kikuyu town PCEA church.

The DP also opened Safaricom Academy in Thika town on April and earlier the refurbished Karibaribi Secondary School which was renamed Thika Girls High School in February. Last month, he attended a function at Muhoho High School in Gatundu South.

And on April 29, he was chief guest at the launch of the the Educational and Infrastructural Support Programme for Persons with Disabilities at Joytown Special School in Thika town.