- Ruto has launched a multi-pronged approach to shore up his fortunes in Western Kenya.
- The president's pick of some of the region's sons to plum state jobs is seen as part of his plan.
Image: PCS
Opposition leader Raila Odinga's political fortunes in Western Kenya, one of his most loyal bases outside Luo Nyanza, face a major threat from President William Ruto.
The head of state on Thursday would up his extensive tour of the region with analysts now saying the forays could significantly chip away Raila's fortunes.
The move by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula to team up with Ruto ahead of last year's polls was seen as a masterstroke against Raila.
The two leaders, who are hailed for having delivered the final political volley that sent Ruto to State House, have become not only key pillars of his administration but crucial political insulators.
The president is also banking on key state appointments made to the region to penetrate Western Kenya despite Raila enjoying considerable support.
During his tour across the four counties of Bungoma, Busia, Vihiga and Kakamega, regional leaders lauded the president for the appointments and vowed to rally behind him.
''We want to tell you Your Excellency that you have kept your word and entrusted our sons with top leadership positions that have never been held by anyone from this region. We will not let you down,'' said Wetang'ula in one of the stopovers.
President Ruto nominated Renson Mulele Ingonga, a son of Western Kenya, as the next Director of Public Prosecutions.
Born in Kakamega county, Ingonga was among the insiders from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions who were interviewed for the job.
Ruto also picked Andrew Mukite Musangi, another Western Kenya native, as Chairman of the Central Bank of Kenya.
Ruto has also commissioned a number of development projects in the region as part of his promise to Wetang'ula and Mudavadi ahead of last year's polls and in a bid to dwarf Raila's fortunes.
President Ruto is now keen on exploiting his close ties with key Western Kenya bigwigs including Mudavadi, Wetang'ula and trade unionist Francis Atwoli to turn the tables on Raila.
Atwoli was instrumental in Raila's Azimio campaigns but shifted loyalty immediately after Ruto was sworn in.
The three have previously been integral in enhancing Raila's foothold in Western Kenya during his past presidential bids save for 2013 when Mudavadi ran against him.
Although critics opine that Mudavadi and Wetang'ula relied on Raila for their political survival in their own turfs, others insist that their presence in Raila's camp shored up his fortunes.
Kakamega-based political analyst Justus Kinisu said Wetang'ula and Mudavadi will work closely with Atwoli to stop Raila in Western Kenya.
''It was Wetang'ula and Mudavadi who handed Ruto victory. If you look at Ruto's strategy, he wants to put the three at the forefront in his battle against Raila in the region,'' Kinisu said.
According to the analyst, a combination of the two backed up by Atwoli and MPs, would give Raila a run for his money even if he decided to throw his hat in the ring again in 2027.
''The Luyha leaders in Kenya Kwanza government will have one duty under Ruto, to stop Raila in his tracks,'' he said.
Both Mudavadi and Wetang'ula backed Raila's 2017 presidential bid with Western Kenya voting almost to a man for the then Nasa presidential candidate.
Raila however, lost to retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.
In 2013 Raila swept the Western region with the support of Wetang'ula and Atwoli despite Mudavadi running against him.
In the 2007 polls, Raila was also the king of the region after dwarfing the late President Mwai Kibaki in the region.
Wetang'ula backed Kibaki while Mudavadi was behind Raila.
Following President Ruto's narrow victory over Raila in last year's general election many attributed that to crucial votes he received from Western Kenya.
Wetang'ula had taken credit for the win and attributed it to the number of votes he got from the Luhya community.
"It was your vote in Bungoma that dropped the weight of all that we were arguing about and it was our vote that made the difference, it dropped one person, passed another," Wetang'ula said.
Ruto got 7,176,141 votes against Raila's 6,942,930 votes, giving a margin of 233,211 votes.
Wetang'ula's Bungoma backyard delivered 229,409 votes to seal Ruto's victory.
While speaking on Wednesday during a leader's meeting held at State Lodge Kakamega, Mudavadi said that the region stands a better chance to benefit from Ruto’s government.
"Let us not blow hot and cold at the same time. We need to assure the President and his government that we are fully behind him and we will support the transformation agenda he has envisaged for this country,” he said.
"We should be aware that President Ruto means well for our region and that is the reason why he has created time, and out of his tight schedule, come to listen to us, reason with us and talk to us about how we should move along together on matters development."
Mudavadi also said that Ruto has remained true to his pre-election agreement with Amani National Congress and Ford Kenya parties.