Deputy President William Ruto's 2022 State House bid has been faced with a myriad of challenges.
Despite a section of politicians arguing that it is too early to engage in campaigns, the current political scene in the country demands proper preparations for the polls.
However, the challenges the DP is facing can be turned into stepping stones should Ruto do these three things.
First and foremost, the DP should maintain a close relationship with his political allies. Having close allies who are vocal and powerful will be highly beneficial to Ruto in the upcoming polls. A group of leaders who speak in one voice and have the same ambition will boost the DP's presidential bid. Ruto, therefore, needs to maintain a strong relationship with politicians from different regions in the country who will drum up support for his bid come 2022. This will ensure the DP doesn't solely depend on his Rift Valley backyard in his quest to occupy State House.
The second thing that the DP should do is support the fight against corruption. Ruto should be at the forefront of fighting graft in the country and ensuring the protection of public funds. By appearing to be opposed to the anti-graft war, the DP risks losing the support of a section of Kenyans.
The majority of Kenyans have been angered by the increasing cases of corruption that have seen billions of taxpayers' money looted. To gain the support and trust of Kenyans, the DP should distance himself from corruption scandals and publicly castigate those implicated in graft regardless of whether they are his allies or not. He should also accord the investigative agencies spearheading the fight against corruption the support they require in order to ensure the culprits are brought to book.
Thirdly, the DP should support President Uhuru Kenyatta as he seeks to leave a legacy after his second term in office comes to an end in 2022. By appearing to oppose President Uhuru, Ruto risks losing the much needed Mt Kenya support. There is also a need for Ruto to ensure the Jubilee administration achieves the Big Four Agenda. By fulfilling their pre-election pledges, Ruto stands a better chance to win over Kenyans as he would have proven that he is a politician who keeps his promises. However, if they fail to fulfil the promises, this might taint Ruto's image and hurt his 2022 bid.
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