William Ruto unveils point men

Deputy President William Ruto speaks in Githunguri town. [George Njunge, Standard]

Deputy President William Ruto has started unveiling faces of individuals likely to be part of his government should he win the August 9 General Election.

Yesterday, the DP gave strong hints of the men and women who will be in his inner sanctum of power. He gave a line up of people he said would assist him organise his government.

To an expectant crowd of supporters in Tharaka Nithi County, the Deputy President dramatically posed: “Don’t you know Prof Kithure Kindiki? He was our Jubilee Majority Leader in the Senate and the Deputy Speaker in the Senate.”

Then he paused, cleared his throat and continued: Watu wa Tharaka Nithi, huyu muungwana anaitwa Kindiki anatosha kufanya kazi na mimi na hawa viongozi wengine katika kupanga mambo ya serikali? Anatosha ama hatoshi? (Residents of Tharaka Nithi, isn’t Kindiki capable of working with me and other leaders in setting up the national government?

He called for patience among his supporters, saying he will require capable individuals to assist him run affairs of government “like Alice Wahome, Rigathi Gachagua, Musalia Mudavadi, Moses Wetang’ula and Kithure Kindiki.”

“Will you free Kindiki to work with me?” he asked residents. Until yesterday, Kindiki was preparing to dislodge Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki. However, Njuki defected to UDA.

Kindiki now joins a select group of politicians who are not actively campaigning for themselves in their areas but have been accompanying the DP in his campaign.

The DP is expected to name his running mate from Mt Kenya region. Ruto had indicated he was going to name his running mate before the end of April.

Some of the names floated are Gachagua, Wahome, Kimani Ichungwa and Ndindi Nyoro. Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru had indicated it would be an honour to be picked as Ruto’s number two. 

Others trusted allies of the DP are Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika and Murang’a’s Irungu Kang’ata. 

Ruto’s king pins in Nairobi are Johnson Sakaja and Bishop Margaret Wanjiru while his trusted allies in Ukambani are UDA chairman Johnson Muthama, MPs Victor Munyaka (Machakos Town), Vincent Musyoka (Mwala) and Nimrod Mbai of Kitui East.

At the Coast, he has Salim Mvurya (Kwale Governor) Hassan Omar (former Mombasa Senator). Others are MPs Aisha Jumwa (Malindi), Mohamed Ali (Nyali), Khatib Mwashetani (Lungalunga), Owen Baya of Kilifi North.

In Western, Mudavadi and Wetang’ula are leading the troops while at the lower level are Boni Khalwale (former Kakamega Senator), Cleophas Malala (Kakamega Senator), MP Benjamin Washiali of Mumias East.

Other regional supremos in UDA’s pecking order are Aden Duale (Garissa Township) while Nyanza is under Sylvanus Osoro (South Mugirango) and Migori Governor Okoth Obado among others. 

In Rift Valley, the troops ainclude MPs Peris Tobiko (Kajiado East) and Katoo ole Metito (Kajiado South) and Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok.

Speaking when he took the Kenya Kwanza campaign to Embu County at the weekend, the DP exuded confidence that he will win the State House contest. He says Azimio is a State project.