The presidential race is shaping up to be a titanic battle among three main rivals, with the revival of the country's battered economy at the centre of their agendas
Traditional campaign messages around social justice, land reforms and faithful implementation of the Constitution appear to have taken a back seat.
However, as voting patterns are largely driven by ethnicity, it is not clear whether campaign manifestos could be the new in thing.
Deputy President William Ruto, ODM boss Raila Odinga and ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi are among the big guns making reviving the economy a central plank in their platforms.
On Thursday, ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna told the Star resuscitation of the economy would be an important if not the most important part of their agendas.
He said with the economy on its knees, candidates will try to convince Kenyans they have the best ideas to boost recovery, as "you can't address a hungry nation."
"Across the world, people are reeling from the impact of the pandemic, , Kenya is not an exception. The question is how to put money in people's pockets," Sifuna said.
The ODM official said Raila will unveil a clear road map to revive the economy, including pragmatic approaches to key sectors.
"Priorities have changed. You can't talk about social justice to people without without money in their pockets. They want to know how they will eat and send their kids to school," he said.
The economy is projected to grow by five per cent in 2021 and 5.9 per cent in 2022. The rebound assumes the economy will normalise, the World Bank says.
The new approach could evoke memories of the 2002 presidential battle in which Mwai Kibaki's Narc politburo rode on the economic revival platform to vanquish Kanu.
Then Kibaki ,who was the joint opposition candidate, campaigned on opening the democratic space, delivering a more efficient and open government free of graft and revival of the stagnant economy.
A decade later, analysts say, two issues — the economy and the anti-graft war-would likely shape the 2022 contest.
Others say the drive for a united country through a clear policy to fight ethnicity and unify Kenyans could play a key role.
Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua, a key ally of Ruto from Mt Kenya, said the 2022 battle will be all about reviving the economy through the bottom-up approach.
"Kenyans want a president who will take the country on a growth trajectory where Kibaki left it in 2007," Gachagua said.
The MP said the President's leadership has stifled the growth of small businesses, including the SMES that should be economic drivers.
"That is why the DP has come up with the bottom-up approach to ensure mama mboga, the boda boda rider and their small businesses are supported," he said.
But former nominated MP Hassan Osman, a member of the Jubilee National Advisory Committee, said the country will be looking for a unifying personality.
The politician said while the Covid-19 pandemic has battered the economy, electing a divisive politician would hurt Kenya more.
"You can't deliver a miracle in the economy as the pandemic is a global phenomenon. We need a leader whose history will not haunt him and who can unify the country," he said.
ODM boss Raila has anchored his past four presidential campaigns on the fight for democracy, social justice and the war on corruption.
But Kenya's prime minister in the Grand Coalition government hailed for transforming the economy between 2007 and 2013 has put the economy at the centre. He disclosed predictable snippets of his blueprint.
He has promised to launch a multi-billion shilling economic stimulus programme similar to the one Kibaki unveiled in 2008 after the post-election violence.
"The nation is in dire need of economic stimulus programmes to give a lifeline to the many suffering Kenyans,” Raila said last week
He has also promised to reduce taxes, enhance revenue collection, empower small businesses and fight corruption.
"All Kenyans have great aspirations and expectations amidst struggles to make ends meet. Our youth are struggling to clear school, secure good jobs, stop depending on parents, start families and save for the future," Raila said.
He has unveiled an economic blueprint to transform rural economies, saying rich villages can transform Kenya.
Massive investments in rural infrastructure, cheap electricity and clean water will turn around the economy, he said.
"People don't want handouts, they want to work and get paid in industries and open, sustainable business," Sifuna said.
He said without good roads and cheap electricity, boda bodas will be useless as more income will pay overhead.
The DP has crafted a populist economic transformation programme coined around the Bottom-Up economic model.
He calls his blueprint the hustlers' manifesto, targeting low-income earners at the bottom of the kadogo economy.
Ruto has promised to open a Sh30 billion kitty for small businesses, targeting youth and women.
He has been giving pit wheelbarrows, car washing machines, motorcycles, animal feed and sewing machines to the youths to empower their hustles.
ANC's Musalia has fashioned himself as the panacea to economic woes, saying he knows the right buttons to press to steady the economy.
Taxation must be addressed to free the country of shackles.
"As your President, I will ensure taxes on basic commodities are lowered and give the citizens a life of hope. People must have money in their pockets and not be taxed to death," Musalia said.
"My only job as your President is to revive the economy and ensure peace prevails,” he said.
Former Cabinet minister Franklin Bett agreed 2022 is about the economy.
"The next elections will be won or lost on the platform of the economy," he said.
At the heart of the 2022 economic policies are the 13.7 million Kenyans aged between 18 and 34.
Most in this age bracket are jobless and reeling from the shrinking economy and lost jobs, pushing them to the periphery .
Musalia's slogan is Uchumi Bora Kwa Wote while railing at Raila as a Johnny-come-lately in the fight for a strong economy.
"The resuscitation of the economy, which I have continuously advocated, must remain the main agenda going to the next phase of leadership,” he said.
Ruto this week said he was happy it had dawned on the ODM boss that Kenya's future would require redressing the a address the fortunes of the unemployed and poor Kenyans.
“My friend Tinga, welcome to the Hustler movement. The conversation here is about the economy, not ethnicity, empowerment not power,” he said of Raila's new approach to the economy.
“…Jobs not positions, creating opportunity and wealth not sharing, citizens not leaders by changing policy not the constitution to bottom-up not top-down economics.”
Both Raila and President Uhuru Kenyatta have criticised the move saying it’s not sustainable and the government agenda should be driven by policy by its top leaders other than investing in the culture of handouts.
