The UDA boss has been on a massive charm offensive in regions that largely voted for the Opposition in the last polls in a clear scheme to broaden his political networks.
In the last four days, Ruto has pitched tent in Luo Nyanza, the political bastion of Opposition chief Raila Odinga.
The President dished out goodies and persuaded the residents to back his administration in a daring attempt to dislodge Raila from his own backyard.
Ruto was accompanied by, among others, defiant ODM Opposition MPs who have ignored the party’s warnings and expulsion threats for associating with the President.
The region’s four governors Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu), Ochillo Ayacko (Migori), James Orengo (Siaya) and Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay) welcomed the President.
The tour comes weeks after the Head of State traversed vote-rich former Western province and the larger Coast region.
Ruto has also visited Kisii and Nyamira counties as well as Eastern region, which has been under the political grip of Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
Ruto has also been frequenting Kajiado and Narok – the two counties that he split almost equally with Raila in the 2022 polls
Political observers say the President is cleverly playing his 2027 cards to avoid over-reliance on Mt Kenya that ‘gave him the presidency’ and overcome the political burden that comes with incumbency.
“President Ruto is a smart politician. He knows one thing for sure is that you never get the same votes as President as when you got in in first term,” political analyst Mark Bichachi said.
In last year’s polls, Ruto garnered about 87 per cent of votes from the vote-rich Mt Kenya region in what pundits say handed him the presidency.
But Bichachi held that the President is out to wean himself off dependency on Central.
“He knows he cannot depend on Mt Kenya alone to make him President twice. He has to increase his networks outside that region,” he added.
“The smart way is it to expand the networks to add to the votes that he got from Western, Nyanza and these other regions. It’s 2027 mathematics in place,” the analyst said.
Martin Andati, another political analyst, said that while the President is discharging his constitutional mandate of spreading development across the country, he’s leveraging on the same to anchor his political networks.
“He doesn’t want to be accused of sidelining any part of the country. But at the same time, he’s also expanding his political networks in the event Mt Kenya collapses,” he said.
If the President succeeds, pundits say his choice of running mate would be wide open in an intriguing scenario that could change political dynamics, especially in Mt Kenya.
Currently, it’s rumoured that Ruto has fallen out with his deputy Rigathi Gachagua in what could shake his support base in the region.
Rigathi has maintained that ‘shareholders in government’ – those who voted for the regime - must benefit from it, something the President has dismissed as primitive.
But while speaking in Nyanza last week, Ruto said all parts of the country have a right to benefit from the government.
“I will not allow any part of the country to be discriminated in terms of development. I am the President and let no one tell you that you are not part of this government,” Ruto said while in Ugenya on Friday.
Gachagua has also been a fierce critic of the ongoing talks between the government and the opposition, a dialogue that has been fully embraced by his boss.
Ruto’s allies from Nyanza say his plan to penetrate the region is being propelled by development, political appointments and grassroots mobilisation.
For the first time, Ruto is actively involving his appointees in executing his agenda at the grassroots, parading them in all his meetings to confirm what his allies say is mainstreaming of Luo Nyanza into government.
Ruto’s allies believe he could finally break the jinx of former presidents who struggled to win over Nyanza.
On Sunday, ICT CS Owalo told Nyanza that they had finally found a "good friend in Ruto" and appealed to the region to support the President and his administration.
“This is the first time that as a region we feel that we are part of government and as the President has said throughout, his government will develop all parts of this country irrespective of how they voted,” he said.
However, some Raila allies dismissed Kenya Kwanza leaders, claiming the visit is an indication of changing political tides.
“Let it be known that the people of Kenya support Raila Amollo Odinga as our leader and crusader for the Second Liberation of this nation, so does the Nyanza region where UDA does not exist,” Governor Nyong’o said.
Minority Leader in the National Assembly Opiyo Wandayi dismissed the prospects of the visit making significant gains for Ruto politically.
“The Luo people are renowned for their hospitality and pragmatism, and they cherish visitors,” Wandayi said.
Barely two months ago, the President camped in Western, the home ground of Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula, and rallied the region behind his administration.
Earlier, Ruto was at the Coast for four days where he toured the six counties of Mombasa, Lamu, Kilifi, Kwale, Tana River and Taita Tevata.
He launched projects and rallied the region to abandon Raila. The region has been Raila’s political stronghold for decades.
The President attacked Raila as he sought to portray him as a violent economic saboteur following countrywide street protests that nearly paralysed the country.
On August 3, the President visited Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s Ukambani backyard.
The President awarded a charter to the Open University of Kenya in Konza, Machakos county, where he was hosted by, among others, Makueni and Machakos governors Mutula Kilonzo Jr and Wavinya Ndeti.
In his tours, Ruto has been elaborating his development agenda, including plans to cut down the cost of living, which the Opposition has been riding on to discredit his administration.
Political risk analyst Dismus Mokua averred that Ruto seems to have embraced participatory leadership with his frequent tours and town hall meetings.
The style, he said, gives him direct and unfiltered connections to grassroot leaders and citizens.
“The grassroot countrywide tours therefore give him the opportunity to compare notes with citizens, partners and stakeholders besides securing feedback,” Mokua observed.
