Ruto meets Kiambu leaders in bid to consolidate support ahead of 2022 elections

Deputy President William Ruto, Kiambu Women Rep Gathoni wa Muchomba and her counterpart from Nakuru Liz Chelule during a meeting with Kiambu grassroots leaders at his official residence in Karen Nairobi County. [Rebecca Nduku, Standard]

Deputy President William Ruto yesterday met politicians from Kiambu County as he intensifies efforts to consolidate support and market his bottom-up economic agenda.

This came a day after the DP held talks with politicians from Nairobi as part of a strategy to engage grassroots leaders and those who have decamped to the Hustler wing.

Among those present at Ruto's Karen residence in Nairobi yesterday were Kiambu Woman Representative Gathoni Muchomba who recently defected from President Uhuru Kenyatta's Kieleweke wing to the Tangatanga camp.

“Our politics should be anchored on development programmes aimed at transforming the lives of the ordinary people through business and employment. Leaders must rise above narrow interests that undermine our unity as a nation,” Ruto posted on his Twitter handle after the meeting.

Others were Kimani Ichung’wa, Alice Wahome (Kandara) Githua Wamacukuru (Kabete), Lizah Chelule (Nakuru), Lydia Haika (Taita Taveta), Aisha Jumwa (Malindi) and Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika.

Wa Muchomba blamed “the high-handedness of Jubilee Party officials” for her exit from the president’s camp.

She also faulted the planned 2022 deal between the ruling party and Raila Odinga's ODM.

“As a member of the Jubilee Party, I have never been consulted with regard to the planned merger. The Jubilee Party does not listen to us. That is why I left to join a side that would listen to me,” she said.

During a recent interview on KTN News Crossfire programme, the DP accused Jubilee officials of letting the president down in running party affairs, by going after dissenting voices and made reference to the purge against his allies in Parliament.

The DP has led the chorus against the planned pact between Jubilee and ODM and has since jumped ship – albeit unofficially – to the United Democratic Alliance, a party he hopes to fashion into his political vehicle for next year’s election.

Ruto met leaders from Narok County on Tuesday to champion his ‘hustler’ politics and bottom-up economic approach.