- Ruto’s visit has been billed as strategic to counter Raila Odinga and Karua's influence from the region.
- Ruto will be expected to tour places such as Kenol, Saba Saba, Kaharati, and Maragua before leaving for Nyeri for a similar exercise.
Image: ENOS TECHE
Deputy President William Ruto will be expected to visit Mount Kenya counties just a day after Azimio running mate Martha Karua visited.
Karua and the Azimio team visited the two counties on Friday drumming up the support for Raila Odinga's presidential bid.
The choice of running mates by Ruto and Raila has raised the stakes in the vote hunt in the region.
Raila is betting on Karua’s national appeal, and her being the first woman deputy president nominee of a major party, while Ruto is banking on Gachagua's influence from the region.
On Friday, Martha Karua held mega rallies in Nyeri and Murang’a counties popularising the Azimio bid while the DP is also expected to visit the two counties on Saturday.
Ruto’s visit has been billed as strategic to counter Raila Odinga and Karua's influence from the region.
President Uhuru Kenyatta endorsed the duo as the best to succeed him after August 9 election.
Speaking to Star on Friday, Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga confirmed he will host the DP in the afternoon alongside the Kenya Kwanza troop.
Kahiga said they will have a two-hour campaign tour in the constituencies in Nyeri county.
They will also be expected to have a stopover in Kirinyaga county to campaign for Governor Anne Waiguru who is seeking re-election.
This will be the second event in Nyeri, where the two leaders, Ruto and Gachagua, will be attending a Nyeri rally together since the unveiling of running mate event.
Among those expected to accompany them include MPs Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu), Alice Wahome (Kandara), Governor Waiguru (Kirinyaga) and Senator Irungu Kanga'ta (Murang’a), among others.
Ruto team has criticised the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for hiding behind Karua in a move to be accorded Mount Kenya votes.
The DP will also be expected in Murang’a county on Saturday for a rally at Gakoigo stadium in the Maragua constituency.
He will be hosted by UDA governor aspirant Kanga'ta, Mary Waithera (MP Maragua), Nyoro and a host of aspirants in the county.
Ruto will be expected to tour places such as Kenol, Saba Saba, Kaharati, and Maragua before leaving for Nyeri for a similar exercise.
UDA secretary for legal affairs Edward Muriu confirmed the event, saying that more than 10,000 supporters are expected to attend.
He said the meeting will be attended by all the aspirants eyeing positions on the UDA ticket.
Muriu denied reports that Ruto is trailing Azimio la Umoja movement in Mount Kenya.
Azimio caravan on Friday toured Kiriani, Kangema, Mukuyu, Maragua, Kaharati, Saba Saba and Kenol town.
Political analysts and Star columnist Albert Kasembeli said Ruto and Raila are fighting for the control of the region.
“Deputy President no longer enjoys the support he had from Mount Kenya as Karua seem to have turned the table and Azimio has considerable support too," he said.
The fierce battle between the President’s camp and Ruto’s for the soul of Mt Kenya, insiders say, is likely to escalate as the election nears.
Uhuru has previously warned the residents from the region against supporting his Deputy.
Strategists in his camp believe Mt Kenya remains a key cog in his succession politics, hence the fresh plot to go full throttle and pull it from the DP’s grip.
(edited by Amol Awuor)