Details have emerged of Deputy President William Ruto’s campaign strategy have emerged, revealing surprising details.
Quoting multiple sources behind the strategy, Nation reports that despite DP Ruto alleging that his tours are for development, the seasoned politician has his eyes fixed on the 2022 race and has zoned the country into three regions: red, green and battleground zones.
“Depending on how we mapped out the country, we have distinctive teams charged with areas of focus. The aim is to realise targeted messaging and to cover as much ground as possible in our development tours,” former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale told Nation.
Red refers to Luo Nyanza region, where the publication reports that he has opted not to waste his precious time and resources for now, there for now as he believes it would be an exercise in futility with the region firmly behind Raila Odinga.
Rift Valley and Central are zoned as green and are perceived to be behind him. The strategy reveals that all he has to do is retain the support by intensifying visits in political rallies disguised as harambees and development tours while at the same time avoiding any major political blunders.
Coast, Western, Ukambani and Gusiiland are listed as battleground zones. This is where he will direct his resources and time hoping to win them over and sail to victory.
In all the three zones, point men have been carefully selected to advance DP Ruto’s agenda and sway public opinion in his favour.
Their roles is to aggressively market Ruto and discredit his potential challengers at every available opportunities.
They are also expected to defend him and sometimes trivialise issues of grave concern such as corruption, reducing them to propaganda in a complex mix of humour and sometimes playing the victim as was the case with the war against corruption when DP Ruto's allies alleged that they were being targetted unfairly.
Ruto fully booked for the next 10 months
Ruto who is proving to be a tireless work-horse has his calendar full for the next one year.
“His calendar is tight until next year,” confirmed Belgut MP Nelson Koech who is privy to the details.
Another outfit dubbed Vijana na Ruto is also being assembled and will be launched next year to endear DP Ruto to the youth.
Vijana na Ruto lobby group
The lobby group will complement the Inua mama lobby group comprising of the likes of Alice Wahome, Aisha Jumwa, Susan Kihika and Millicent Omanga.
The two lobby groups will keep Team Embrace that is opposed to the idea of Dr Ruto succeeding President Kenyatta in check.
In Western, the team hopes to capitalize on the confusion, the disunity lack of a clear regional kingpin. This perhaps explains why the region has the highest number of pointmen allied to DP Ruto, among them Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka, Majority Whip Ben Washiali and now Dr Khalwale.