I am sure that as of now, ODM leader Raila Odinga has started bridging the gap between him and Deputy President William Ruto, especially in Mt Kenya.
The activities that Raila has had in the region and the reception he has received indicate that he is headed to at least 30 per cent popularity rating, in my estimation.
This is because Raila has rallied the most populous counties in the region, Kiambu, Murang'a and Nakuru and has combed through Nyeri and Laikipia.
That essentially is a major boost. The other part that I think he might want to go to is Meru. That would raise his ratings to more than 30 per cent in the whole of Mt Kenya.
The battle is not between Raila and Ruto as such but it is the interests—as in who is best able to articulate the interests of the region.
From where I sit, I see a region that is battling within itself. The Raila idea is that of the Kibaki style and economic management, which lifted the country from the doldrums of economic decline to almost seven per cent.
Ruto's style is about pitting class against class—the poor against the rich—and he is losing.
The poor versus the rich kind of fight is a threat to the region and it is in the process of making Raila very popular, regardless of his economic model.
Obviously, Raila had to overcome almost two decades of campaigns against him.
It is the same rich who rallied themselves against Raila. Those have now become his best foot soldiers. They have a lot of influence at the grassroots because they are the ones sustaining families, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The tycoons are now going to churches and even holding corporate meetings.
The battle has entered what we call the combat stage—sword to sword. Therefore, I see this gap diminishing very fast within the shortest time possible and by the time we get to December, the story would be different.
Raila's graph will be going up.
The political analyst and Murang'a senator aspirant spoke to the Star
