President William Ruto has been forced back to the drawing board and is embracing regional leaders’ meetings as a strategy to shore up public support for broad-based government.
He appears to be dropping public meetings and mini-rallies or roadside stops to embrace boardroom sessions with key political figures.
Ruto’s administration has come under sharp focus over alleged state-sponsored abductions, return of extra-judicial killings, growing political intolerance and unbridled arrogance.
The growing public fury over the government’s lack of sensitivity to the suffering of Kenyans and fears of a wave of new taxes have forced the President to devise ways to calm down jitters.
While he has deployed state officials to speak elaborately about the country’s changing economic fortunes, Ruto’s administration is walking a tightrope.
In what is seen as a strategy to counter public resentment, Ruto has opted to meet politicians from select regions to map out strategies.
For instance, the President’s allies in Mt Kenya, the backyard of his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua, are having it rough for participating in the removal of the former DP.
The President is also under pressure from his newly-found allies from the opposition to reward former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s loyalists for their instrumental role in Gachagua’s removal.
Facing multiple and confounding headaches, Ruto has retreated to State House, holding a series of meetings with regional political caucuses.
So far, he has held meetings with politicians from Nairobi, Samburu, Kakamega and Turkana counties.
Ruto is expected to meet with politicians from other regions this week and address a joint sitting of the National Assembly and the Senate on Thursday.
Through his X account, he said the meetings are meant to discuss the government’s development agenda under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
“We discussed affordable housing, fresh produce markets, ICT hubs, electricity connectivity, water and irrigation projects in their respective counties and constituencies,” Ruto said on his X account.
Ruto insisted the transformation of the country is underway and the economy has stabilised and food production significantly increased.
“The cost of living has substantially reduced and the entire Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda is on course,’’ he said.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale who attended a meeting for Kakamega county politicians said the President hosted them to “ a four-hour working session.
“We held serious discussions on matters development in our county,” he said.
On Wednesday, leaders from Kisii and Nyamira counties held a meeting at a Nairobi Hotel in what was seen as a preparatory session for talks with the President in the coming days.
There are reports the leaders could meet Deputy President Kithure Kindiki this week as the Kenya Kwanza administration intensifies consultations.
North Mugirango MP Joash Nyamoko said they will meet Kindiki to congratulate him on his new role and also seek an audience on development.
“We have decided to come together as leaders from the Gusii region because we believe in our unity and numbers, we shall enhance our bargaining power,” he said.
The meetings also come when the head of state is expected to make radical changes to his government including naming new faces into his Cabinet and reshuffling Principal Secretaries.
Ruto is also likely to reorganise Parliament, with ODM MPs expecting to be named as chairpersons of key committees.
Those targeted in the grand housecleaning in the coming days include committee chairpersons and vice-chairpersons who have defied party positions.
Gachagua’s allies are likely to be shown the door in the impending changes in Parliament as Ruto moves to consolidate the House leadership.
Insiders say the President has been holding meetings with political leaders from various regions as part of his efforts to unite the country and reassure Kenyans of his development agenda.
The meetings are also seen as part of his strategy to get the feeling of Kenyans on his policies while also giving him an opportunity to lobby for support of his programmes.
National Assembly Majority Whip
Sylvanus Osoro said the meetings
are about development.
Ahead of the 2022 polls, Ruto was
known for numerous meetings at
the official residence of the Deputy
President where he hosted many
political groups.
