Rift Valley leaders plan to visit Moi in 2022 election strategy

Rift Valley leaders are planning a visit to former President Daniel Moi’s Kabarak home, barely a week after ODM leader Raila Odinga met him.
The leaders said during the “thanksgiving” event they would also seek blessings from Mr Moi for Deputy President William Ruto ahead of his 2022 presidential bid.
They spoke during the homecoming party of Bureti MP Japheth Mutai in Kapkatet, Kericho County yesterday. At the event, the DP was flanked by Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter, Bomet Governor Joyce Laboso, Senate majority leader Kipchumba Murkomen among other leaders.

STEER CLEAR
Mr Ruto, however, chose to steer clear of politics and instead dwelt on development matters.
Dr Laboso, Mr Murkomen and Bomet East MP Beatrice Kones said they would organise the visit to Mr Moi as Kalenjin leaders. Mr Murkomen accused Baringo Senator Gideon Moi of denying Mr Ruto the opportunity to visit his (Gideon’s) father.
“There are those who have been asking why someone else (Mr Odinga) has gone to shake hands with Mzee Moi yet local leaders are yet to. I want to reveal the truth to you today. As the chairman of Kalenjin MPs, I have time and again sought an appointment so we can go and visit Mzee. Ni ngumu (It is complicated). Those opportunities are given in bits like Panadol by his son,” said Mr Murkomen.

UNITY TALKS
The Baringo senator has vowed to challenge Mr Ruto for the presidency in the next General Election. “Gideon should make it open for us to go and congratulate and thank Mzee and stop using the former President for selfish political interests,” he said, adding that leaders respect Mr Moi and the visit to him would be an honour.
Dr Laboso said: “It’s so encouraging to hear the unity talks by MPs like Ngong (Emurua Dikirr’s Johana Ng’eno) and Alfred Keter (Nandi Hills) and we can confidently say the unity circle is complete behind DP Ruto. We can as well go to Kabarak together and ask for our father’s (Mr Moi) blessings ahead of 2022.”
When he rose to speak, the DP congratulated Mr Mutai and asked the leaders to focus on development. “We are building 350 kilometre roads in Kericho alone. We are also focusing on water projects including the multibillion shilling Boito dam serving parts of Bomet and Kericho,” he added.

PROMINENTLY
However, talk of the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Mr Odinga featured prominently at the event with leaders lauding the gesture.
President Kenyatta and Mr Odinga a month ago buried their differences and promised to engage in talks.
The Opposition leader on Thursday visited Mr Moi together with the Baringo senator among other leaders, where another handshake featured.
The move ignited a debate in Rift Valley that the senator could have been seeking the support of Mr Odinga for his 2022 presidential bid.
However, MPs led by Mr Mutai and Mr Ng’eno said the community would not allow “two bulls to rule one pen”, and that they will have to choose one strong candidate to run for the country’s top job.

KILL DREAMS
Mr Ng’eno, while acknowledging that his relationship with the DP has been blowing hot and cold, vowed to “die for a brother (Ruto)” if the situation will call for it.
“You (DP) are ahead of the rest, others are following you slowly, and we can’t kill their dreams. We know you are a great schemer, but you have so many enemies whom you need to bring close for you to win the great war ahead,” said the Kanu MP
He added: “About Gideon, he is struggling to stand upright, but in case we will have to choose between you two, we will sit and choose the best,” he said.
When the Nandi Hills MP took to the podium, he preferred to raise a concern about cartels in the tea sector, only talking figuratively about politics.

MT KENYA
“Let us talk the truth always. Let us strategise wisely and move carefully as we seek the price,” he said while assuring his supporters that he would overcome the “many issues like court cases” that he is facing.
Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wa asked the community to ignore detractors, saying that in Mt Kenya, the river of “hustler”, “chicken seller” and “ordinary Kenyans” was full to the brim and would sweep anyone standing on its way, referring to the region’s support for the DP.
“Mt Kenya has great confidence in the DP,” he said.