Hustler Youth, UDA Babes popularise Ruto's bid

A lobby group under Hustlers Youth Movement and UDA Babes has stepped up campaigns for Kenya Kwanza leader William Ruto and for peace.

They said they will preach peace to all the people despite their background, race or tribe.

The group is sponsored and funded by Bati Vicky, a youthful politician from Kericho county who ran for Woman Representative  in 2017.

Group spokesman Dennis Kibet said they have visited several counties with the message to vote for Ruto, saying his development record is impressive.

“DP Ruto has proved to be a true leader during the time he served in different capacities. He is the only person who can bring real change because he has a national outlook and that qualifies him for the top job,” Kibet said.

He spoke at a meeting with youths at a Bomet hotel on Sunday

He said they have organised forums to meet other young people around the country and urge them to preach harmony before, during and after the polls.

“This series of peace forums is aimed at building  peaceful coexistence among the various communities," Kibet said.

He said they have decided to engage the youth to integrate communities because politicians normally misused them during the campaigns. 

“Such platforms offer opportunities to youths from various ethnic backgrounds to interact and share their diverse cultural beliefs  to become tolerant of each other,” he said 

Kibet said, "We are appealing to locals, especially the youth, to learn to be tolerant and avoid the plunging the country into chaos again as in 2007-08.

"We are concentrating more efforts with the youths since they are the perpetrators of violence and at the same time the agents of peace.”

Similar sentiments were echoed by national coordinator of UDA Babes Sharon Chemutai. She called on youths to watch out for politicians who want to exploit them during elections and then disappear.

She cautioned them against receiving handouts from politicians, saying the that's the practice of recycled leaders who are non-performers.

“This time round, you should not allow politicians to use you as the platforms for their self-interest and divide people along tribal lines," Chemutai said.

“Let’s scrutinise those eying leadership positions in the county and elect leaders with clean records,” she said.

(Edited by V. Graham)