In a recent article, I pointed out three 'mistakes' that might cost DP William Ruto Mt Kenya support in his maiden 2022 presidential bid.
Ruto who by all means is a shrewd and smart politician knows that a slight mistake or miscalculation can be very costly when it comes to the Mt Kenya vote.
Therefore, everything that he decides to embark on in an effort to win this particular voting block must be guided by a lot of wisdom. Remember voters from this region have a history of voting for one of their own when it comes to the top seat.
Having said that, it is pretty clear that Ruto requires a lot of support and goodwill especially from influential local elected and unelected leaders to marshal enough support for him as 2022 draws closer. Or can a general, however good he could be, win a battle without footsoldiers?
However, not all 'footsoldiers' can help you win a battle. Some actually put you on a losing trajectory right from the start.
So, what kind of Mt Kenya politicians must Ruto avoid as we head to 2022 if he has to win over the vote-rich region?
1. Sycophants
Ruto must avoid obsequious politicians from this region who are too eager to assure him on every available opportunity that the whole of Mt Kenya is behind him. That is not true and he knows it.
"It is in black and white, and we will not change our stand on the promise we made prior to the 2013 elections," Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu said on Monday during a funeral attended by Ruto.
Such statements are very deceitful and misleading and Ruto must ignore them and their owners in entirety.
2. Hypocrites
Without mentioning names, they are very many in the region and they will dance with him during the day and at nighttime, they will be planning for his thunderous downfall. Pretenders, the Bible says, are worse than murderers.
3. Opportunists
Currently, the DP is facing a form of rebellion from the region that has been informed by an array of issues among them the perception that he is defending corruption.
And since there are no signs that the Jubilee leadership wants to call for a truce, the existing rift can only widen translating to Ruto's loss of support in Mt Kenya.
This is where the cunning political foxes from the region will come in to take advantage of the prevailing situation. They will be there to tell him what he wants to hear; Mt Kenya is behind you while the reality could be the exact opposite.
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