Deputy President William Ruto, ODM leader Raila Odinga and his ANC counterpart Musalia Mudavadi are setting the stage for a gruesome campaign ahead of the 2022 General Election.
The three, who are seen as leading contenders for the presidency, have already hit the ground running, consolidating support across the country some 13 months to the polls.
Raila, barely a fortnight ago, signalled the coming of a political "tsunami" ahead of the General Election.
"The machine we are building is a powerful one. Some people are thumping their chest but are not aware of what is awaiting them ahead,” he said during the funeral of former Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo in Siaya county.
The Deputy President has sustained his campaigns, expanding his support base ahead of the August 2022 presidential race.
Were it not for the ban on public meetings in Nyanza due to the coronavirus, Ruto was expected to take his hustler movement gospel to the region — the stronghold of his friend-turned-foe Raila Odinga.
Ruto, who already has a think tanks working on his winning game plan, is currently working on his blueprint tailored for each region. They will be unveiled in December.
Insiders in the Ruto camp have disclosed that in the coming days, Ruto is set to intensify grassroots mobilisation and outreach.
United Democratic Alliance chairman Johnson Muthama said the programmes of the “hustler movement are rolling on as planned”, saying they have an activity in every county geared towards the campaigns.
“The public consultations for our manifesto are ongoing in every region and we will converge soon to unveil a national blueprint that captures the aspirations and wishes of all Kenyans. The Deputy President has been engaging grassroots leaders every other time and we will continue with that strategy,” he told the Star on phone.
On Wednesday, Raila unveiled a 15-point blueprint, giving a preview of his vision for Kenya.
The former Prime Minister has put the fight on corruption, national unity, economic emancipation and job creation at heart of his 2022 plans. Food security and primary health care will also be there.
In his 15-point agenda titled 'What Raila Believes In', the ODM boss outlined a raft of policy interventions that would likely form the essence of his 2022 manifesto.
Mudavadi on the other hand has anchored his 2022 campaigns on rebuilding the economy.
The ANC party leaders is a leading political heavyweight in the One Kenya Alliance.
In February, Mudavadi asked members of his Luhya community to let him campaign in other parts of the country in his bid to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta next year.
Mudavadi also asked residents of the populous Western region to register as voters in large numbers and cast their ballots as a bloc.
“I am pleading with you to let me campaign in the Rift Valley, Mount Kenya, Northeastern, Eastern, Nyanza, Coast, Nairobi and all other corners of the country to ensure I have enough numbers enabling me to succeed my brother Uhuru,” Mudavadi said.
He added, “Meanwhile, you should concentrate on unity of purpose, register as voters in high numbers and be set to vote as a bloc so that our friends can respect and support us.”
Political analyst Daniel Orogo said the heightened activities could also be a scheme by the three to up their value for the much-expected political negotiations as 2022 approaches.
“William Ruto has declared his political position as a de facto presidential candidate on the UDA ticket and his activities are geared towards scouting for a running mate. He is also raiding zones perceived to be strongholds of his worthy opponents," he stated.
Orogo noted that on the current political stage, no individual party can win without entering into alliances or coalitions with like-minded outfits.
The ODM leadership is eagerly waiting for the determination of the BBI appeal. The verdict will be delivered on August 20by the Court of Appeal, putting campaigns into overdrive.
Soy MP Caleb Kositany, a close confidant of the DP, said they are now “expanding their vote basket by making inroads in opposition strongholds.
“Our strongholds of Mt Kenya, Rift Valley and Northeastern are intact. In the last few years, we have made new friends and the agenda the Deputy President has for this country has earned him new support. We have women and youth groups already working at the grassroots level, promoting the hustler agenda,” he said.
In the last month, the ODM boss has met his allies from the Coast, Nyanza, Central, Western and Rift Valley regions as he gears up for a fifth stab at the presidency.
Mudavadi has started to move around, bolstering his message on the resuscitation of the economy and the management of public debt.
Last weekend, he was on a two-day charm offensive to eat into the Deputy President's support base in Nakuru. The tour comes barely three weeks after he toured Mombasa where he engaged local leaders and residents, urging them to support his presidential bid.
Mudavadi is also keen to strengthen his ANC party.
The party has since invited aspirants to ANC tickets to send official letters declaring their intentions.
“ANC is in the process of preparing its candidates for the 2022 General Election,” a notice from the party reads.
ANC has revised its membership registration fee downwards to allow as many Kenyans as possible to join. The party will now be charging Sh50 for ordinary membership.
During a meeting of the party’s top organ, the Amani Council, the party transitioned from life membership to two categories of membership, Ordinary and Amani Stardom.
The Amani Stardom is further divided into five levels; One Star, Two Stars, Three Stars, Four Stars and Five Stars.
The meeting, chaired by Mudavadi, also resolved to mandate the party leadership to enter into any coalition or exit from any, as long as the move serves the best interests of the party and its members.
(Edited by Victoria Graham)
