Deputy President William Ruto intensified efforts to consolidate his strongholds under the Jubilee Party after he addressed a series of rallies in Nakuru County where he asked locals to shun the opposition.
After holding a series of political events in Western Kenya—an area considered as opposition zone—DP Ruto entered Nakuru County, a Jubilee stronghold, through Kiptagich area in Kuresoi South constituency where he received hero’s welcome.
Unlike in the past, DP Ruto struck a reconciliatory tone and clearly avoided local politics like his run in with Baringo Senator Gideon Moi and Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto taking time to explain to the residents the need to vote for Jubilee.
The deputy president also took a swipe at opposition Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka, Moses Wetangula and Musalia Mudavadi saying that they were putting obstacles on the way because they are not prepared for election.
“Our opponents are scared because the election is just around the corner they don’t even know their candidate. My message to them is that they should forget 2017 and take time to prepare to face me in 2022,” he said in Olenguruone.
He said that they are going to win the election by a bigger margin this time around because Kenyans have seen their work starting the expansion of electricity, free maternity care, roads and the waiver of examination fees among others.
“They (opposition) don’t have an idea of how to lead this country forward what they only know is to organize street demonstrations and other petty things,” he stated.
Mr Ruto, who raised concerns with the low turnout in registration centres, urged locals in the vote rich county to register in large numbers and vote for President Kenyatta.
He expressed regret that there are about 400, 000 people with identity cards in Nakuru County alone who have not registered as voters. “We must reach out to these people and make sure that they acquire this important document,” he implored.
He asked locals to stay firmly in the Jubilee Party seeking their assurance that they will not be swayed by the opposition. “I consider this place home to me. I have come to you with a few issues and I want you to help us reach out to this people,” he added.
This way, he will get sufficient time to make forays into opposition zones and win them over saying that he had already made major gains in Western and Coast regions. “We have already poached 16 MPs from opposition to our side in the Coast and more are going to come…” he added.
Mr Ruto, who w as accompanied by Governor Mbugua and his deputy Joseph Ruto, addressed made a series of stopovers from Kiptagich, Olenguruone, Muchorwe, Molo, Kibunja, Salgaa, Sachangwan and Nakuru Town.
He was accompanied by a host of MPs including Moses Cheboi (Kuresoi North) and Jacob Macharia (Molo) and Nakuru County Assembly Speaker Susan Kihika.
