President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Mt Kenya troops have rolled out an aggressive campaign to axe DP William Ruto’s perceived influence in the region.
Uhuru's lieutenants have now dared the DP to a political duel as Uhuru heads to Sagana State Lodge for a major meeting on Wednesday, known as Sagana III.
It will be at this meeting that the head of state is expected to publicly declare ODM boss Raila Odinga as his choice for president.
Mt Kenya bigwigs loyal to Uhuru have vigorously stepped out to resuscitate Jubilee as a crucial part of the bigger political plan to cut Ruto down to size.
On Monday, some Jubilee MPs led by former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth led a robust campaign to market the party in Nairobi.
In the neighbouring Kiambu county, Governor James Nyoro led a big meeting of Jubilee supporters clad in Jubilee's red-coloured outfits.
"We are ready for him (Ruto), and after Sagana, we want to meet him on the ground," Kieni MP Kanini Kega said.
Big billboards, some with the President's image, have been erected in parts of Central and in Nairobi.
"We promised, we have delivered,"one billboard read.
Influential Jubilee politicians from Mt Kenya have heightened grassroots-driven campaigns to revamp the party ahead of a pact with Raila over the weekend. Will the grassroots deliver for the tycoons?
Big meetings with Jubilee troops that others have christened 'the red army' have been held in several constituencies over the past week.
On Tueday, the campaign will shift to Mathira and Othaya constituencies as the President’s men plot to turn the tables on Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance.
The President's men and women aim to generate activities in at least 30 Mt Kenya constituencies before the general election.
On Monday, Kenneth said Uhuru's team will reverse Ruto's fortunes in the region.
Kenneth claimed the DP was ‘buying’ a section of Mt Kenya MPs to disparage and undermine the President despite Uhuru ‘rescuing’ him from the jaws of the ICC.
“The DP is free because of Uhuru Kenyatta, he saved him from the ICC and now he is all around attacking him and tarnishing his reputation,” Kenneth said at Roysambu.
Kenneth, who is among the key Jubilee figures backing Raila’s presidency, said they will go to the grassroots to "teach Ruto-allied MPs bitter lessons".
“We know them and what they stand for. Today going forward, you will see a lot of branded cars and our people campaigning for the Jubilee Party,” he said.
Ruto is marketing his UDA party as the 'exclusive Mt Kenya vehicle' after falling out with Uhuru.
The pro-Jubilee forces have devised a plan to shore up the ruling party’s fortunes in the President’s turf to enhance the region’s bargaining power in the Azimio La Umoja matrix.
“We are preparing our party for a working arrangement with Azimio,” Kega said.
The Uhuru ally and a pillar of the Azimio stalwarts from Mt Kenya said that there is a broader plan to enhance Jubilee’s visibility.
The President’s party is expected to seal a deal with Raila during a marathon of National Delegates Convention platforms lined up by Jubilee and ODM over the weekend.
Both Jubilee and ODM will hold the NDCs on Friday and on Saturday as part of decisive steps to consummate their marriage ahead of the August 9 general election.
Azimio is tipped to be a major political machine that will propel Raila’s candidature and which will include more than 10 other parties.
The road to the big weekend will begin on Wednesday when Uhuru will host Mt Kenya leaders at the Sagna State Lodge to ‘spill the beans' over his falling out with Ruto.
In an interview on KTN News Checkpoint on Sunday night, National Assembly Majority leader Amos Kimunya revealed the President will roll up his sleeves against Ruto and his team.
He said the President will use Sagan III to address the “fake information” being peddled in the region by his ex-allies-turned-rivals to consolidate the bloc.
“The main agenda of the meeting is the unity of Mt Kenya because it is an area invaded with lies, propaganda. The young generation has been made to believe that President Uhuru Kenyatta failed them and is not supporting businesses. As if he brought Covid-19,” Kimunya said.
Kimunya said Uhuru plans to update his region on his achievements for the bloc and explain his falling out with his deputy.
The President’s allies have admitted that the lack of direction was causing confusion in Mt Kenya where the DP is perceived to enjoy significant support.
It is true the mountain had shifted its support. UDA got a huge following because people lacked an alternative party as the President chose to focus on delivering his agenda to the people
Ruto’s UDA has largely been seen as the main political party for the region, despite other homegrown parties including Jubilee.
Kimunya admitted that the Jubilee Party lost its command in Central to Ruto’s UDA but dismissed claims the President has abandoned his people.
“It is true the mountain had shifted its support. UDA got a huge following in the area because people lacked an alternative party as the President chose to focus on delivering his agenda to the people,” he said.
In the Jubilee activation campaign in Nairobi, Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni claimed that Ruto was an "enemy of Mt Kenya region" for "derailing" the Building Bridges Initiative.
The BBI had proposed allocation of more resources to counties with Mt Kenya alone expected to get an increase of Sh54 billion.
“The Jubilee Party stands strong as it used to be. I would like to assure you that the nomination exercise will be free and fair and all our candidates will be accommodated in the next government,” Kioni said.
Roysambu MP Waihenya Ndirangu vowed to stick with Uhuru and Jubilee to the last minute.
He said that he will “lock Roysambu constituency as a Jubilee zone” while reaching out to grassroots leaders.
“I’m in Jubilee Party and those in other camps should know this and I won’t abandon my boss,” Waihenya said.
Gatanga MP Ngugi Nduati said that the UDA party has already sensed defeat and that is why they are now thriving on propaganda to seek public attention.
Kiambu Governor James Nyoro also held a similar event and pledged to face off with UDA candidates in the August election.
Nyoro said that President Uhuru Kenyatta stands out as the Mt Kenya kingpin and people should accord him the respect his office deserves.
(Edited by V. Graham)
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