While campaigning in Nakuru county on Saturday, March 19, Ruto – who is one of the country’s most decorated politicians – seized the moment to assure his supporters that he will defeat Raila in the August vote despite the former Prime Minister enjoying the backing of the state.
In a thinly veiled attack and speaking figuratively, the DP stated that he will carry the former Premier on a wheelbarrow and dump him at his rural home in Bondo.
Ruto applied the metaphor of a wheelbarrow, his political party’s symbol.
“This old man, the only thing that is remaining is loading him on a wheelbarrow and dumping him in Bondo so that he can retire peacefully,†the DP remarked in Swahili amid cheers and ululations from his supporters.
The DP – who is known to rattle even his boss, President Uhuru Kenyatta – did not spare the Commander-in-Chief, saying that he should not meddle with his (Uhuru’s) succession politics.
“The President is my friend, I have told him time and again to let me and this man who speaks in parables (Raila) square off at the ballot. I will sink (read defeat) him in the morning,†he added.
Ruto, who fell out with the President after the March 2018 handshake – went on to confidently remark that he will win the presidency even though the Head of State was backing Raila.
“Even if they gang up against me, I will still win. It is the votes that count, not the number of politicians in a coalition.â€
Uhuru has already endorsed Raila as his preferred successor despite having entered into a gentleman’s agreement with Ruto in 2013 and 2017 that he would support him after he retires in August.
Ruto and Raila are seen as the frontrunners in this year’s election, both enjoying substantial support from across the country.
This will be the first time the two will be going head-to-head in an election that has been termed the most competitive in the history of Kenya.
Both Ruto and Raila are listed as some of the best political mobilisers in the country. The DP successfully mobilised his supporters to vote for Raila in 2007 and for Uhuru in 2013 and 2017.
On the other hand, Raila is credited with delivering of the historic 2002 victory which saw the end of KANU’s 40-years of power, with the opposition under President (Rtd) Mwai Kibaki taking over the country’s leadership.
Source: KENYAGIST.COM