It now emerges that Deputy President William Ruto has since won the backing of some tycoons drawn from the Mt Kenya region, who are in turn laying the foundation for his 2022 presidential campaigns.
The team has since embarked on bankrolling 16 youth groups from 10 counties in the region to publicise the Deputy President and his manifesto, as he prepares to join the race in succeeding President Uhuru Kenyatta officially.
The groups are spread through Kiambu, Murang’a, Laikipia, Nyandarua, Meru, Embu, Tharaka-Nithi, Laikipia, Kirinyaga and Nyeri counties and are as well tasked with publicising his movements and activities.
Further, they have identified social media groups to be used to reach every Kenyan, as some of the group’s leading figures revealed to the Daily Nation on Tuesday.
The groups include Team Maendeleo, Tanga-tanga Online Team Ruto, Tanga-tanga in Action, Women in Prayers stand, Ministers on their Knees, Artists and Performers, Mt Kenya for William Ruto and Tanga-tanga lobby group.
Others are Mt Kenya Development Movement, Team Tanga-tanga, Ruto for 2022, Kithure Kindiki WR (William Ruto), TangaTanga Youth Group, Kirinyaga United Group, Friends of Ruto and Kerugoya Youth Group.
Despite not having any specific centre of command, the groups are controlled by opinion leaders who source funds from area business-people and are committed to delivering.
“The groups are gearing for 2022. We must be consistent. The aim is to advance his (Deputy President) agenda,” Karombia Maina, Coordinator of Mt Kenya for Ruto group told the Daily Nation.