Deputy President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga’s political machines are fast taking shape as the presidential race narrows to two-man duel.
The duo is crafting jumbo political formations, assembling teams of top business tycoons, think tanks and seasoned, youthful and vocal politicians ahead of their epic showdown on August 9.
They are also formulating their diaspora campaign teams and building international networks with back-to-back trips abroad.
The latest opinion polls suggest Ruto and Raila are the frontrunners to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Combined, they command close to 80 per cent of the country’s voting bloc, with more than 15 per cent still undecided on the man they will elect.
“Raila and Ruto are each doing what a compelling presidential candidate should do. That is why we are seeing them putting in place their political machinery,” political analyst Javas Bigambo said.
Political observer Martin Andati said the leading presidential aspirants are still strategising to outsmart each other with each camp poaching the best brains to bolster their think tanks.
Raila has assembled Azimio la Umoja Movement, bringing onboard at least 15 parties to battle Ruto.
The true nature of the movement will be known at the weekend when the ODM chief is announced as the Azimio flagbearer.
The DP, on other hand, has crafted the Kenya Kwanza Alliance, bringing onboard at least three political parries – UDA, ANC and Ford Kenya. Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has also hinted that his Chama Cha Kazi, alongside 21 other outfits, will also join the alliance.
Ruto is expected to unveil his political machine next week.
The Deputy President's UDA party will hold its National Delegates Convention in Nairobi on Tuesday, where he will be officially endorsed as the outfit’s presidential candidate.
“We must agree the two have done considerable work to put in place functional and robust political teams to help secure their victory,” Bigambo said.
RAILA'S CAMP
On Saturday, the Azimio brigade, which is headed by Raila and President Uhuru Kenyatta, will introduce the ODM chief as flagbearer in a highly publicised event displaying the former prime minister’s political might.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, arguably the tiebreaker in the State House race, is expected to attend the event and endorse Raila for the top seat.
Should Kalonzo and his One Kenya Alliance brigade join, they will form part of the top national and regional kingpins, seasoned and experienced political players Raila has brought together.
“Raila has inherited huge human capital from President Kenyatta. He has assembled the team that he has worked with in previous elections,” Bigambo said.
He added, “He has tried to assemble the luminaries in the struggle for multipartism around him.”
Other top politicians and parties in Raila’s vehicle are the President’s Jubilee Party, Ndiritu Muriithi’s PNU, Wafula Wamunyinyi’s DAP-K and Governor John Lonyangapuo’s Kenya United Party.
Others are Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi’s PAA, Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi’s Devolution Empowerment Party, Charity Ngilu’s Narc, Kivutha Kibwana’s Muungano Party and Alfred Mutua’s Maendeleo Chap Chap.
The parties have been leading regional campaigns for Raila in a strategy to lock out Ruto from their backyards.
Nairobi-based political risk analyst Dismus Mokua said with his mega team, Raila has a pool of intellectual and think tanks to pick from.
And with regional parties backing his bid, Mokua said the ODM boss’s work has been reduced as he will not need to personally traverse all parts of the country to campaign.
“When Raila goes to Wajir, it is the regional leaders who do everything. If he goes to Mombasa, it is Joho who does everything. Azimio can also take advantage of the President’s goodwill and enjoy state resources,” he said.
However, he observed that Azimio is "too big a house" and he could face a serious headache during nominations with accommodating those who lose the polls.
Raila also appears to have elevated at least 10 energetic, vocal, youthful and seasoned politicians to his national campaign team.
They are Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, Ngilu, former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth Kieni MP Kanini Kega, Narok Senator Ledama Olekina and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed.
Others are Gender CAS Rachel Shebesh, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Homa Bay Woman Representative Gladys Wanga and the latest entrant, Mukhisa Kituyi, former secretary general of UNCTAD.
The team will likely be revamped with the coming of Oka bosses – Kalonzo, Kanu’s Gideon Moi, Cyrus Jirongo of UDP and Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua.
The ODM boss has also secured the backing of tycoons in the Mt Kenya Foundation. The businessmen are believed to be among Raila’s top financiers.
Raila, who will be seeking the presidency for the fifth time, has assembled a 12-member think-tank.
They include governors Muriithi, Ngilu and Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu) and top dons Peter Wanyande, Karuti Kanyinga and Makau Mutua.
RUTO'S CAMP
Ruto has upped his bid to craft an equally formidable if not superior political machine.
The DP, who was initially against the formation of an alliance, has teamed up with ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi and Ford Kenya boss Moses Wetang'ula under Kenya Kwanza.
Just like Raila, reports indicate the UDA boss is also working behind-the-scenes to form a mega alliance to face Azimio.
As aforementioned, more parties, including Kuria's CCK are edging closer to inking a coalition deal with Ruto’s UDA.
“This is to inform Kenyans that Chama Cha Kazi party and 21 other political parties are in early talks with the Kenya Kwanza Alliance that will lead to a very broad based grand coalition,” Kuria tweeted last week.
Kuria said the formation will "deliver the nation to peace and prosperity".
Ruto has also assembled ‘Sky Team’ comprising youthful and seasoned politicians, which has been combing the country with him in the campaign trail.
“We are seeing him cobbling up a team that constitutes some young vibrant people. He has come up with fellows who were at the heart of Jubilee because he has split Jubilee with Uhuru,” Bigambo said.
The team includes MP Aden Duale (Garissa Township), Senator Kithure Kindiki (Tharaka Nithi), Nyali MP Mohamed Ali, South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro and Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro.
Others are Alice Wahome (Kandara) , Rigathi Gachagua (Mathira), Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet), Kimani Ichung’wah (Kikuyu), Didmus Barasa (Kimilili) and Aisha Jumwa (Malindi).
The politicians have the charisma and oratorical skills to help energize Ruto’s campaign messages as well as confront rivals as campaigns approach the crescendo.
“We have a team that has the agility and flexibility to easily understand the message, they set the tempo for others to pick up,” Barasa said.
The team has been bolstered by the entry of Mudavadi and Wetang'ula, who have fired up Ruto's campaigns since February.
Sources say the team has been deliberately assembled to drive specific political rhetoric and fire attacks at the handshake partners at the slightest opportunity.
Unlike other allies who use separate choppers or sometimes their own vehicles to reach the rallies, the ‘Special Sky Team’ is said to be mostly using the DP’s choppers.
Political observer Gabriel Muthuma said the politicians are the insiders in the DP's camp.
“Their messaging appears to be resonating well with the people, especially in Central Kenya, where it could be said they have a big following,” he said.
The DP has also picked economists, communications gurus, political and policy experts all who are crafting his political messaging and shaping his bottom-up economics model narrative.
Mokua said Ruto’s perceived ‘dislike’ for coalitions and his strategy to directly engage the public in his whirlwind campaigns could be a double-edged sword.
He said the DP has formed a direct link and connection with the voters, unlike Raila, who is using regional kingpins to popularise his candidature.
Coupled with his hustler narrative, Ruto has come out and "seems to have broken the ethnic card" that has dominated the country’s politics, Mokua said.
However, the strategy would require him and his team to traverse every corner of the country to send the message directly to the people.
“The three Kenya Kwanza leaders have to do many more meetings than Raila. They will also require many more resources to put up those meetings,” he said.
However, the DP is believed to have strong financial muscle to mount a well-oiled campaign against Raila, who enjoys the President’s backing.
Ruto has at least three choppers with his co-principal Mudavadi also owing one, which are instrumental in their countrywide campaigns.
(Edited by V. Graham)
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