Deputy President William Ruto has stepped up his already relentless countrywide campaigning to capture State House, holding at least 280 political meetings in 22 months.
Less than a year to the August 2022 General Election, the DP has sustained a countrywide tour blitz marketing his hustler nation movement anchored on his bottom-up economic model.
Since he fell out with President Uhuru Kenyatta around 2019 and was virtually kicked out of government, he is not permitted to launch or inspect government projects.
But Ruto has outfoxed his 'deep state' rivals. He now commissions NGCDF-funded projects, youth and women empowerment initiatives and donated generously at church harambees countrywide.
His forays have been frenetic in ODM leader Raila Odinga's strongholds of Western, Coast, South Nyanza as well as Nairobi.
He has given a wide berth of late to his 'locked' Kalenjin Rift Valley, concentrating on Narok, Kajiado, Nakuru, Laikipia and Turkana counties.
Since the coronavirus pandemic struck Kenya in March last year, the DP has held many gazebo meetings, mostly at his official Karen residence.
The Star's study of his political activities over the period shows he has hosted at least 147 meetings, bringing delegations from Nairobi and neighbouring counties.
The DP has visited Kakamega 12 times, Kiambu (18), Kakamega (nine), Bungoma (seven), Nyeri (13) and Embu (six), Meru (nine), Nyamira (eight), Kisii (nine), Migori (one), Mombasa (seven), Taita Taveta (five), Lamu (one), Kwale (four), Kilifi (six), Kajiado (seven), Nakuru (four), Trans Nzoia (three), Vihiga (three), Busia (two), Nyandarua (five), Laikipia (four) and Narok (five).
To expand his vote bloc for the do-or-die August 9 presidential contest, Ruto has also stormed Wiper boss Kalonzo Musyoka’s turf in Makueni, Kitui and Machakos.
On Wednesday, the DP crisscrossed Kiambu county and on Thursday he campaigned in Bungoma and Busia counties. On Sunday he will be Naivasha, Nakuru county.
Sources have told the Star Ruto and his brigade are expected to visit Nyanza in coming days. That's Raila Odinga's turf.
Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok said Ruto is combing every part of the country to ensure "all Kenyans board the hustler movement caravan".
He rejected claims the DP is trying to overshadow President Kenyatta.
“This has been the DP's style since he was Minister of Agriculture. He is not an office man as such. He wants to be out there launching and overseeing development," he told the Star on the phone.
He added, "The assertion that he started early campaigning does not stand. Kenyans 'felt' the Jubilee government in the first term because the DP was always out in the field doing development".
Ruto has fashioned his 2022 campaign message as a duel between the “hustlers” verses the “dynasties”. He hopes to penetrate political territories that have been ring-fenced by tribal politics.
But some observers say he needs to shift from that narrative and become more inclusive. The establishment and dynasty elements say the hustler message is divisive and class-based, adding that people need more than wheelbarrows.
Ruto says Kenyans are hustlers and his movement is for everyone. Presidential candidate Mukisa Kitui said he is a hustler and is glad the DP raised the debate.
The effectiveness of the hustler message and bottom-up economic model are clear and have changed the campaign narrative. The President has rolled out more loans and empowerment programmes for youth, women and the needy, and so has Raila.
The UDA guided by the Bottom-Up Economic Model will eradicate ethnicity and hate, as it embraces all Kenyans united by common economic challenges.
In the last few months, Ruto has launched a charm offensive in Coast and Western regions, which have always been regarded as Raila’s strongholds.
The DP has said he is reaching out to all Kenyans to build a national party that will form the next government.
While in Kaiti constituency, Makueni county, on Thursday last week, Ruto called on Kenyans to shun negative ethnicity and vote for leaders with development track records.
He said the 2022 election will be about issues and not "ethnic chieftains".
This is likely why he has distanced himself from former Kalenjin advisers, in a move to broaden his appeal.
“The United Democratic Alliance guided by the bottom-up economic model will eradicate ethnicity and hate as it embraces all Kenyans united by common economic challenges,” Ruto told grassroots leaders at a meeting.
“A national party built on a strong pro-people economic foundation will be the cornerstone for the hustler nation movement. Ethnic divisions have undermined our efforts to build a united society,” he said.
In Nyanza, the DP has paid several visits to Kisii and Nyamira counties — with the recent visits being this week for Nyamira — but has not been to Kisumu, Siaya or Homa Bay. They are Raila's strongholds.
In the last election, President Kenyatta defeated Raila in Kisii, with Jubilee having the majority of MPs from the county and Ruto wants to replicate that next year.
Raila, hails from Siaya and is viewed as the Luo community’s political kingpin.
The last time Ruto visited Kisumu was on June 1 for Madaraka Day celebrations.
Ruto was warmly received in Kondele as he made his way out of the Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Mamboleo after Madaraka Day fete.
Residents, especially the youth, in uncharacteristic excitement stopped the DP’s motorcade after the celebrations led by President Uhuru Kenyatta. Raila was among the guests.
Ruto has not set foot in Siaya since he and the President were re-elected to office in the repeat presidential election in October 2017.
The last time he was in Siaya was in July 2015 when he was hosted by Anglican Bishop Johanness Angela in Bondo.
The DP and his friend-turned-foe Raila were both members of the ODM's defunct Pentagon and Ruto could freely tour the former Nyanza province without anxiety.
However ,with his fallingout with the former Prime Minister in 2009, compounded by the tribal card that has dominated the previous elections, Ruto has avoided the region.
Raila, on the other hand, has also equally avoided the Rift Valley, particularly North Rift.
The two political titans have remained guarded in their choice of words whenever they are in each other's territory.
Raila was in Ruto’s home county of Uasin Gishu last month where he was also received warmly by huge crowds that thronged the streets of Eldoret.
The ODM boss has enjoyed near fanatical support in Nyanza over the years and it will remain to be seen if Ruto can make any significant forays into the region.
The DP has, however, come under sharp criticism from allies of President Kenyatta and those of Raila ,who accuse him of engaging in early campaigns.
Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi said the DP should carry the blame for undermining the government from within, campaigning instead of helping Uhuru to implement projects.
The close confidant of the former Prime Minister said it is immoral for Ruto to shun the government he formed and try to apportion the blame to Raila.
“Ruto started polarising the country immediately after 2017 general election. Despite the President warning him not to engage in early campaigns, he ignored that. As far as we know, Ruto is part and parcel of the Jubilee government and he will be scored on that account,” he told the Star.
Opiyo noted that all political leaders are free to market their agenda across the country “as long as they do not incite Kenyans against each other”.
(Edited by V. Graham)
