Inside Kenya Kwanza plan to unveil charters in county rallies

Deputy President Ruto will also be using the public rallies in the homestretch campaign period. 

The events, sources privy to the arrangement said, will take place after the signing of the charters and launch of the coalition’s manifesto on Thursday in Nairobi.

Governor candidates in the Kenya Kwanza camp have all been invited to the launch set for Kasarani and will be signing the charters on behalf of their residents.

“Each of the governors running whose party is affiliated to Kenya Kwanza will be present. They will append their signatures to approve the charter,” one source said. 

Ruto and his team have been visiting counties to hear their views on various issues in economic forums.

Through the economic forums, Ruto hopes to understand the problems facing Kenyans in different parts of the country, with a view to addressing them.

“This is not a political campaign meeting. What we are discussing here are key issues pressing our economy,” he said during an event in Kwale on Saturday.

“I will work hard to implement every aspect of what I am pledging. The bottom-up economy will work. This I can assure Kenyans and I will be accountable to them.”

Among those in Ruto's think tank helping him craft his economic blueprint are economist David Ndii and Raila's former campaign boss Eliud Owalo.

The DP has committed to provide jobs for youth,  deal with food insecurity and allocate grants to small- and medium enterprises to boost business.

Pouring cold water on the trickle-down economic approach, Ruto said, “The model has entrenched poverty by making a few people filthy rich while at the same time condemning millions to poverty.”

Ruto has also held separate meetings with representatives of sectors, including health, persons with disabilities, youth, teachers and small business traders.

On Tuesday, the four teams led by Ruto's running mate Rigathi Gachagua, ANC’s Musalia Mudavadi, Speaker Justin Muturi and Ford Kenya’s Moses Wetang'ula held similar meetings as they raced against time to cover the remaining counties.

Ruto also held a meeting with the Human Rights Watch executive director Kenneth Roth at his Karen residence where they discussed electoral matters and peace in the region.

While Gachagua pitched tent in Nyandarua, Mudavadi was accompanied by Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua and his Kilifi counterpart Amason Kingi to Kitui.

Muturi presided over the West Pokot leg of campaigns as Wetang'ula led Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok and Garissa Township MP Adan Duale on the campaign trail in Turkana.

(edited by Amol Awuor)

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