President William Ruto’s scheme to win the 2027 elections amidst waning popularity amongst Kenyans is one of the key reasons for his trip to Nyanza region.
Though it appears as he is gracing the homecoming events of his new Cabinet Secretaries from the region, Ruto is on a mission to forge friendship with the region that overwhelmingly voted against him in 2022 polls.
Apparently, he is losing support of the Mt Kenya region that gave him the highest number of votes.
Rifts between him and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua are now an open secret though when sharing public platform, the two try to show strong friendship.
Ruto’s recent foray into Mt Kenya region apparently did not win back the overwhelming support he got before and shortly after polls.
Central and upper Eastern leaders are coalescing behind Gachagua, a move that has alarmed Ruto who besides making some opposition leaders Cabinet Secretaries, he is also endearing himself to Nyanza and Coast regions by supporting and funding campaign for Rail Odinga’s stab at chairmanship of the African Union Commission.
Ruto yesterday indicated he is yearning for a political alliance with Luos.
Speaking during the thanksgiving ceremony of his newly appointed Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi in Ugunja, Ruto expressed confidence in the new-found relationship between the ODM party and his Kenya Kwanza outfits.
He said he would ensure that he brings the Nyanza region on board come 2027.
The President underscored that the region has been in the cold for decades and would now be absorbed into his government, urging the residents to also allow other regions in the country to be in the opposition.
“We have the Minority Leader Junet Mohamed and we agreed yesterday that after three years, we will look for other people to lead the opposition because we will all be in government,” Ruto said.
“Do you agree that after three years we should hand over the opposition to other people? Or do you still want to continue being in opposition here in Nyanza? After three years, if there are people who want to lead the opposition, let us give them.”
This is now seen as a message to the Mountain that he will form the next government without them.
He targets a pact with Western, Nyanza and Coast regions in a bid to counter Gachagua’s populous backyard in case the latter drifts away as it is happening.
