Ruto takes his Bottom-up campaigns to Kalonzo’s backyard

KITUI, Kenya  Sep 24  – Deputy President William Ruto has taken his bottom-up campaigns to Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s political backyard in an effort to woo Kamba voters into backing his 2022 presidential bid.

Speaking at Katheka in Kitui West during a women and youth empowerment programme, Ruto urged the residents to align themselves with leaders focused on uniting the country.

“We all have the opportunity to unite Kenyans including Kitui people in our United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party. I wish to ask you to support me so that we work together,” Ruto said, while dismissing his competitors as having no agenda for the country’s development.

Ruto has fashioned himself as the saviour of the youth and their challenges through his Bottom-up economic model which has been dismissed by his main political opponents led by Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga, Mudalia Mudavadi of the Amani National Congress (ANC) and Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka.

But Ruto insists his model is realistic and bound to deliver most Kenyans from poverty if elected president in August 2022 to replace his boss President Uhuru Kenyatta with whom they fell out when he shook hands with Odinga in March 2018.

Kenyatta’s second and final term will end in August next year and he has made it clear he supports Odinga as his preferred successor in what has angered Ruto and his allies.

“They are ganging up against me but with your support we will defeat them,” Ruto said, and added that “The reason I am asking you to walk with me is because we need the country’s unity. It is through unity that we will care for each other and end the gap between the rich and poor.”

Ruto and other leaders allied to him have insisted on using an economic model that empowers the youth, by injecting money to the low income businesses as the perfect way to revive the economy.

But even as Ruto toured Kitui, the region remains fluid politically with area Governor Charity Ngilu opposed to his bid.

Ngilu has criticised the DP for abandoning the government’s agenda so as to popularise his 2022 presidential ambitions.

Ngilu has previously asked Ruto to resign from the government if he is not satisfied instead of criticising it from within, a call reinforced by the president earlier this month when he met Editors at State House, Nairobi.

But Ruto has dismissed the resignation calls, saying, “I am a man on a mission.”