Deputy President William Ruto is a smart strategist who will seize any opportunity to bulldoze for what he believes in, Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu has admitted.
While endorsing a text on his Facebook, Wambugu, a fierce critic of Dr Ruto, noted that the country's second in command has opted to face Mt Kenya people directly without going through President Uhuru Kenyatta.
In the post, Wambugu agrees that the DP is keen to throw Uhuru out of equation, a strategy of blocking any plans by Uhuru to demand to have a say in next government should Ruto take over.
"Being the smart guy that he is Ruto has decided to be ‘clever’. He has decided to side-step Uhuru and go directly to the region’s voters to get the votes directly.
"That way he will not have to negotiate anything National for the region as a whole. He can offer them ‘local’ promises one part of the region at a time, and even turn some sections of the region against others if he has to. This way Ruto will not have to offer anything national to the community as a bloc," read the text.
According to the first term legislator, Dr Ruto has waged a rebellion against the President in Mt Kenya, through working closely with some MPs and MCAs. Further, he says, Ruto is keen to support their re-election plans.
"He just needs to buy off a few of the region’s MCAs and MPs to sell his idea. To further hedge his bets and raise his chances for success in this plan he is also facilitating these MCAs and MPs that he has bought from the region to initiate and cultivate an active grass-root-based rebellion against Uhuru Kenyatta’s leadership in the region using the ‘hustler-vs-dynasty’ narrative. In return he has promised these ‘leaders’ support in their re-elections in 2022," read the post.
On Thursday, Mr Ruto said President Kenyatta was not elected because of his ethnic background but competency. He was responding to Governor Ann Waiguru.
“We supported and voted for Uhuru to succeed Kibaki not [because] of ethnicity but competence,” stated the DP on Twitter, arguing that tribe doesn't matter in next polls.
Dr Ruto has made numerous trips to Mt Kenya region in the past two years. Unlike in other regions, succession politics are often witnessed in Central Kenya. Uhuru has often warned local leaders against early campaigns.