- His strategists have formed teams that will sensitise and mobilise voters to ensure they all turn out on August 9 and vote for Ruto.
- Rift Valley has about 5.3 million registered voters and Mandago says they target to harvest all of them for UDA.
DP William Ruto’s allies in the North Rift are working to achieve complete voter turnout in the region to give him a wide head start in the presidential race.
His strategists have formed teams that will sensitise and mobilise voters to ensure they all turn out on August 9 and vote for Ruto along with UDA candidates.
Speaking during campaigns in Ruto’s home constituency of Turbo in Uasin Gishu, outgoing Governor Jackson Mandago and other UDA candidates urged residents to ensure they lead by example through a high voter turnout.
“Your own son here in Turbo is in the presidential race and you should all come out to stand with him by ensuring that everyone will be out to vote,” Mandago said.
He said they would traverse all villages in the region urging residents to prepare to come out in large numbers and vote.
“We expect not less than 99 per cent voter turnout,” Mandago said.
Rift Valley has about 5.3 million registered voters and Mandago says they target to harvest all of them for UDA.
Ruto is expected to wrap up his campaigns in the region ahead of August 9 with major rallies in Kapsabet, Iten, Kabarnet and Eldoret towns.
The Eldoret rally to be held days before the polls will also be a prayer meeting for the Kenya Kwanza team to win the election.
Last week, Ruto allies also teamed up to push for the six-piece voting pattern for UDA candidates.
The move follows a strong challenge by independent candidates in most areas.
There has also been wide resistance against the six-piece pattern in Elgeyo Marakwet county.
The allies, including UDA candidates, have teamed up for joint campaigns hopping to beat back strong inroads made by independent candidates who are vying for various seats in the region.
Mandago of Uasin Gishu, his Nandi counterpart Stephen Sang and Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen are leading various teams pushing for the election of UDA candidates in the region.
“We are also asking our people in this region to vote for UDA candidates because we believe DP Ruto will form the next government and he needs enough foot soldiers to implement the bottom up agenda,” Mandago said.
More than 200 independents are vying for governor, senator, woman rep, MP and MCA in Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Baringo and Elgeyo Marakwet counties.
The candidates include businessman Bundotich Buzeki, Dr Cleophas Lagat, Samson Changwony and Stanley Kiptis for governor in Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Elgeyo Marakwet and Baringo respectively.
MP seats where independent candidates are posing a serious threat to UDA men include Nandi Hills, Kesses, Moiben, Mosop, Soy and Marakwet West.
Mandago, Uasin Gishu Woman Representative Gladys Shollei and UDA governor candidate Jonathan Bii led joint campaigns in Kesses constituency where they urged locals to vote for UDA candidate Julius Ruto and reject MP Swarrup Mishra.
Mandago asked locals to reject Buzeki, terming him as a leader who thrives on lies, propaganda and incitement.
Buzeki and Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter, who is defending his seat as an independent candidate, have defended themselves and asked residents to elect leaders based on performance and not parties.
Edited by Henry Makori