President William Ruto’s five-day charm offensive of Western Kenya has laid bare his political strategy to cut his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua to size.
Gachagua who was removed from office last October is threatening to chip away Ruto's support bases as he lays ground for the 2027 polls.
The ex-DP has sustained attacks on the Kenya Kwanza government saying President Ruto is running a one-man-show while prescribing what his allies should say.
In a fightback, Ruto has employed a multi-pronged strategy including downplaying Gachagua's influence, explaining why the former DP was impeached and displaying his new support bases.
The president's extensive development tour of Western Kenya was the first-ever show of his might since Gachagua's ouster as his hitherto enemy territories embraced him.
Ruto's messaging has revolved around why Gachagua's impeachment was necessary and his support for former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's African Union Commission post.
His allies in the development tour have been Raila's supporters and opposition bigwigs including governors, senators and MPs.
In the last five days, Ruto has stormed the five counties of Western, deploying the might of government and assembling key figures from the region to woo voters.
In an unprecedented action, Ruto paraded influential figures in the opposition and regional bigwigs to build his case, assuring residents that he would not leave them out of government.
The President’s strategy is seen as part of an elaborate political plan to counter the former Mathira MP.
Nyando MP Jared Okello said the President has embraced a strategy to reveal details about Gachagua’s ouster because he is endearing himself to Western Kenya.
“The President knows that Mount Kenya is not aligned with his agenda and that is why he has intensified campaigns in Western Kenya and Nyanza,’’ Okello said.
In his tour of Western Kenya, Ruto has accused Gachagua of being a thorn in the flesh of the government, rubbishing his bid to send the President home in 2027.
Laughing off Gachagua’s 2027 plans is meant to affirm Ruto’s foothold on the country at a time when the Mount Kenya region is seemingly restive.
The president said there are those who were given jobs but failed to deliver to Kenyans.
“Some people want to bring tribal, hateful politics that separate Kenyans. I want to ask them to look for policies, the people cannot buy tribalism, they cannot buy hatred," Ruto said.
Gachagua had challenged Ruto to deliver Kenya Kwanza promises to Kenyans now that he had been removed from office.
“They said I was the problem, I am no longer in government, why can’t they do roads, electricity and improve the economy,’’ Gachagua said recently.
