RUTO’S NEW CALCULATED PLAN TO ASCEND TO PRESIDENCY

Deputy President William Ruto has made hustlers and ordinary people pivotal in developing his manifesto and sharing top national slots.

The Star has established that committees for each of the 47 counties have been formed to spearhead public forums to collect the public’s views on issues for his platform.

Once views are collected, they will be scrutinised by a national multi-sectoral secretariat that will forge a solid blueprint that resonates with the vast majority of voters.

The secretariat will also propose how to share Cabinet slots among the 47 counties “in a manner that reflects the face of Kenya,” Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok said.

“The new approach is meant to make every Kenyan part of government” and enhance accountability.

“The Kanu government was seen to be a Kalenjin government, the Narc was largely perceived as a Mt Kenya government and the Jubilee administration seen as a Mt Kenya and Rift Valley government.

“We now endeavour to form the next government in which each and every one of us will be part and parcel of it,” he told the Star.

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Cabinet, from 2013 to date, is largely dominated by Kikuyus and Kalenjins.

Critics call this situation entrenched tribalism in government. 

In January this year, former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka accused Ruto of dishing out his entire 2013 Cabinet share to his Kalenjin community.

Another idea being floated is that if Ruto forms the next government, Cabinet Secretaries will be vetted for a specific ministry and not shuffled and reshuffled, as has been the practice.

The argument is that individuals are nominated for a specific ministry based on their expertise and strengths. Once the National Assembly vets and approves them, and they’re appointed, they can only be sacked if they fail to deliver.

Another proposal, seen as a move to run efficient government, is a new model to curb wastage in government, agencies and independent commissioners. It is understood Ruto’s think tank is proposing this.

Insiders say, to save close to Sh100 billion used by parastatals and independent commissions in hiring office space annually, they will first have to utilise available government buildings scattered within Nairobi.

About to 60 government agencies and commissions spend taxpayers’ money hiring office space in expensive places in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and other major cities and towns.

However, President Uhuru Kenyatta’s allies on Wednesday said Kenyans should not let Ruto get away with “lies” and must first account for his own eight years in government.

Deputy Majority Whip in the National Assembly Maoka Maore denounced Ruto’s proposals, saying the DP is good at making empty promises to hoodwink voters.

“Ruto is good at making promises he does not intend to keep. What he is promising now will remain on paper,” he stated.

Maore dismissed his Mt Kenya colleagues supporting Ruto, describing them as a  “lost group”, only interested in positions Ruto is dangling.

“You don’t approach a leader with proposals if you value yourselves but instead you let the suitor approach you, and then you make demands,” he said.

“These people do not know William Ruto. They have been telling us Ruto does not need anyone to get the votes but to talk to the people directly. One day, Ruto will tell them, he went and looked for votes.”

ODM leader Raila Odinga has branded Ruto “Mr Six Months” for having promised to deliver so much within six months.

Among the promises were the failed laptops projects for schools, one million jobs for youths youths, 47 modern stadia and 100,000km of tarmac. They were also made by the President and his Jubilee administration.

“Mr Six Months! The youngsters you promised laptops to eight years ago are now old enough to see through your lies. The youth you promised eight million jobs to in eight years can see through the wheelbarrow lie you are now peddling,” Raila said on January 23.

On Thursday last week, the DP told Citizen TV his administration will focus on sorting and helping the hustlers. He said this category of go-getters  has been ignored for a long time, despite their lack of jobs and other problems.

Former Mombasa governor candidate Hassan Omar, an insider in Ruto’s 2022 campaigns said, “It is  time for a paradigm shift in Kenya’s politics aimed at empowering people and realising their issues.”

In an interview with the Star on Wednesday, Omar revealed they were adopting the new model so each county will come up with their development issues they want implemented.

He said in the new model, leaders including the President, will be held accountable for what they pledge versus what they deliver.

Omar said already they have formed a Coast Economic Congress that has been meeting for three months.

“It is a new reality that we want to organise our politics and economic programmes. Since Independence, elections and politics have been about individuals. That is coming to an end. The conversation has changed and it is about the people,” he told the Star.

Already 62 pro-Ruto legislators from 11 counties of Mt Kenya have formed two committees to spearhead public hearings on an economic agenda and a wish list of positions the region should get in the next government.

Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro told off critics of the new approach, saying they are free to adopt a different way that works for them.

He told the Star on Wednesday the 62 MPs from Mt Kenya “speak for the majority of the people in the region”.

“Our competitors are planless and have no direction. That is why they are envious of our progress and instead of requesting to join us, they are coming up with all manner of imaginings,” Nyoro said.

He said, “Each region or county has unique issues of development and leadership. Therefore, they will align those needs after hearing proposals from Kenyans. This will form part of the bigger conversation and contract the next government will have with the people.”

He said some Mt Kenya leaders against the move “have always been challenging us that they are waiting to see what the DP has for the region”.

Kuria East MP Mathias Robi said they will involve all stakeholders including  “hustlers”, farmers, the business community and professionals to tell the Ruto team what they need from government

“The Deputy President has been categorical that the next government will adopt a bottom-up, not a top-down economy, and empowerment programmes. We will go out of our way to involve the ordinary people so their issues are captured in our manifesto,” he told the Star.

However, President Kenyatta’s troops have trashed all the DP’s ideas, saying the proposals are a “trap” for Ruto so that if he disagrees with them, they can stage a mass walkout.

Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni said their time in Ruto’s camp is no longer tenable and they plan to abandon him before the 2022 General Election.

“They are looking for an exit strategy. They are looking for ways of leaving the camp honourably. We welcome them to our side,” he said.

Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu said the list being drawn up by the Tangatanga-allied leaders from Mt Kenya region does not represent the wishes of the entire region. 

The critic of the DP who founded the Kieleweke faction of Jubilee said the leaders cannot purport to open negotiations on behalf of the region in exchange for their political support ahead of 2022.

“It is quite embarrassing for them to be out here telling us that they now want to negotiate. Who are they negotiating on behalf of? The people of Mt Kenya will take a common position at the right time,” he said.

Wambugu said the region will continue supporting the President and his development agenda until his term ends next year and then he will give them their direction.

By The Star

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