Is Meru region slipping from Ruto’s hold? – Weekly Citizen

Are voters in the greater Meru region drifting away from William Ruto ahead of the 2022 general election?
Are political leaders, hitherto key allies of the DP, also deliberately skipping his functions to avoid being in bad books with Uhuru Kenyatta?
Those are the questions on the lips of many after the county’s top leaders led by Governor Kiraitu Murungi for the second time in a row skipped the DP’s function in the region.

Kiraitu

Interestingly, even vocal leaders such as Tharaka Nithi senator Kithure Kindiki are not accompanying Ruto in his visits to the greater Meru region, unlike in the past where they would even mobilise the locals to attend the DP’s functions.
Ruto, whose first stop was at Meru Level Five Hospital where he inspected the construction of an intensive care unit by the county government of Meru, was accompanied by political neophytes from the region, in an area he expects overwhelming support if he is to succeed outgoing Uhuru in 2022.
Conspicuously absent were the county leadership under whose management the facility falls with the Meru county director of events Al Hajj Mwendia representing the county leadership.
Surprisingly, no apology or explanation was given by the leaders for skipping the event that marked yet another of Ruto’s numerous development tours where 2022 politics often find its way to the agenda.
The top county government leaders also snubbed the homecoming party of nominated MP Halima Mucheke at Meru Polytechnic grounds that was attended by Ruto who led a harambee in aid of women groups in the area.
The deputy president who held two functions in Meru town on the particular day, watched in disbelief as Kiraitu failed to show up.
The governor and his deputy Titus Ntuchiu skipped Ruto’s first stop at the Meru Level Five Hospital despite the facility being under the devolved unit.

Linturi

The two also skipped the homecoming of nominated MP Halima Mucheke at Meru Polytechnic grounds.
No apologies were offered by the two, and it was left to a junior county official and political side kick of the Meru governor to express his supposed thinking.
“We condemn the increasing autocratic tendencies in government that is rolling us back to the one party era days,” said Mwendia, Jubilee secretary general who holds the post of director of events at the Meru county government.
Kiraitu, however sent a Sh100, 000 donation to a harambee that the DP held for women groups at the second event.
The legislators present, including Meru senator Mithika Linturi and MPs Rigathi Gachagua (Mathira), Rahim Dawood (North Imenti), Moses Kirima (Central Imenti), Rindikiri Mugambi (Buuri), Beatrice Nkatha (Tharaka Nithi) firm they would support the DP’s 2022 bid.
“Send our message to president Uhuru Kenyatta that Meru is settled on the 10 years for him and 10 years for you,” said Linturi.
Barely a month before, the DP had visited Meru where he vowed not to be drawn into early campaigns.
Ruto stated he was busy helping the president deliver Jubilee party manifesto.
The DP who exuded confidence of beating opposition chief Raila Odinga, dismissed the ODM leader’s move to challenge him in the 2022 presidential race.
He, however, challenged Raila to reassure the country that in the event that he loses, he will not call his supporters to cause chaos.
“I want to tell him that I’m not worried about competing with him but I want him to reassure Kenyans that he will not cause chaos,” Ruto said.
Speaking in various church fundraisers in Buuri constituency, Meru county, Ruto said he was not bothered by the recent pronouncement by the opposition chief.

Kindiki

“Nimeskia kwamba yule mtu wa vitendawili ametangaza ya kwamba anataka kushindana na mimi kura 2022. Haya mambo nimeyasikia, lakini kwa sasa, mimi niko na kazi ya kufanya… (I have heard that the riddles man has announced that he wants to compete with me in the 2022 vote… but for now, I have work to do),” he told Full Gospel Churches of Kenya faithful at Timau stadium.
Ruto said his tours around the country were for inspecting development projects.
He also defended his frequent church fundraisers saying his opponents were worried because he had entrenched his support base by his association with the clergy.
He described those opposed to his visits to churches as “members of the dark world” who visited witchdoctors and sorcerers.
“Those who don’t believe in God and are the persecutors of Christianity, they will not defeat God’s work,” the DP added.
But now the DP appears to be losing some allies by the day as demonstrated by failure by Meru leaders to accompany him in his forays to the region.
At one time, there was even talk that Ruto was considering running in a joint ticket with Kindiki, who was his lawyer at the International Criminal Court.
In mid-August, Ruto tried in vain to stop politicians from engaging in 2022 politics even as North Imenti MP Rahim Dawood denied claims that there was a plot to scuttle the DP’s meeting.
Dawood led a section of Meru politicians in pledging support to Ruto’s 2022 presidential bid.
“The claims that some Meru politicians tried to stop the DP from coming to Meru are untrue,” Dawood said.
Kirima, Mucheke, Mpuru Aburi of Eala and MCAs said they would not backtrack on Uhuru’s pledge to back his deputy.
In what was seen as displeasure in politicking at the fundraiser, Ruto said the Jubilee administration had resolved to end divisive politics and focus on development.
At one time security officers restrained Edwin Gitonga from accessing Ruto during a fundsdrive at Gikumene Secondary School in Meru county.
However, the DP later stopped his motorcade to give money to a young man who was dressed in a white gown complete with a veil and a banner inscribed “Kenyans wed Ruto 2022, Amen”.
“We want to end politics of division and hatred to unite Kenyans and focus on development. I want all Jubilee leaders not to veer off from that agenda. The debate about 2022, and the referendum should not overshadow development,” the DP said.
But several politicians referred to the DP as ‘Mheshimiwa Rais’ (the president) before explaining that the slip of the tongue was a prediction of the future.

Dawood

They spoke during a fundraiser in aid of the East African Pentecostal Church at Gikumene Secondary School in Meru.
“Besides being a politician, I’m also a pastor in the AIPCA Church. My tongue has slipped and called you president. I assure you that it is not a slip of the tongue but a prophesy and a sign that angels are backing you,” Kirima said.
He said the president could not lie to his deputy and was sure that he would endorse him in 2022.
Aburi said the Meru community has over 1.1 million votes which would go to the DP in 2022.
“When you campaigned ahead of the 2017 elections, the president told us that he would support you for 10 years,” Aburi said.
Dawood said their support for the DP would be unconditional in 2022. Of late, Mpuri has been keeping off Ruto events