Inside William Ruto's strategy to scuttle Opposition

President William Ruto has embarked on an aggressive strategy aimed at netting some big names among the Opposition Principles to join his broad-based camp in his re-election bid as he also scuttles his opponents.

Opposition leaders and government-allied leaders have confirmed that  Ruto has separately sent emissaries to various Opposition figures such as Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Jubilee Deputy party leader Fred Matiangi.

Sources also indicated that he has targeted some leaders in the Edwin Sifuna-led Linda Mwananchi team, in another effort trying to split the fast-emerging political force.

Ruto’s strategy, according to the sources has been informed by reports from the National Intelligence agency which shows his ever deteriorating popularity due to the Opposition’s onslaught which has succeed due to the ethnic mobilization strategy that has left him with parts of his  Rift backyard, half of Luo Nyanza, parts of Coast and North Eastern regions which can’t guarantee him a 50 per cent plus 1 vote for re-election.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has been assigned to deliver Kalonzo, with sources confirming that the two have held meetings, but the Wiper leader rejected his overtures.

Kindiki has also publicly stated that he was on a mission to woo Kalonzo to collaborate with Ruto in next year’s general election while using praise as bait to seek political rapprochement

"I have seen people staying close to him to influence him in politics he does not identify with. He is respectable and a lawyer just like me, but now the group he is working with is linking him to tribalism, but I will look for him," he said at the beginning of this year.

He added, "Between that other guy and me, who is Kalonzo's true brother? Between me and that other fellow, who can direct Kalonzo on the right path and not mislead him into politics of empty rhetoric without any meaningful development for the people of Ukambani and Kenya?"

Another Opposition figure that the government hopes to woo is the Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who fell out with Ruto after his impeachment in October last year.

Former Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria last month said President Ruto would later join Gachagua in his US tour for coalition talks, but Gachagua later dismissed the probability of him working with Ruto.

Yesterday, while speaking to Kenyans living in the US AT Oregon Portland City, Gachagua confirmed that infiltration by Ruto has been the biggest challenge affecting the Opposition.

He said the President had reached out to Kalonzo, Matiangi, Sifuna, Democracy Action Party leader Eugene Wamalwa and Peoples Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua, adding that the President had also infiltrated the Opposition’s secretariat, a move that left them with no option other than disbanding it.

"For the last one year he's been trying to divide the opposition and create conflict among ourselves, offering people money, threatening them with cases, and I can assure you all of us have been very strong and committed to the people of Kenya,” he said.

He said Ruto had deployed millions of money to court Kalonzo, but the Wiper leader declined the offer and chose to stand with Kenyans.

“I want to honour Kalonzo because previously there was a narrative that he has no political stand; many people, including me, had believed that he was indecisive, but since I started working with him, I have realised that the narrative is false. If there is a solid politician with a firm stand is Kalonzo. If he decides I am walking this way, you cannot persuade him differently,” Gachagua told his supporters.

He disclosed that when Ruto was expanding his Cabinet to include former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s allies who served in his Cabinet, he approached Wamalwa for a Cabinet position, but the Former Cs turned him down.

“Ruto had requested Eugene to be a minister. He said no I cannot work with William Ruto. They have sent emissaries to him. He has said no. He is another great leader in our country who cannot betray the people of Kenya.

They also targeted Matiang’i and sent Director of Intelligence Noordin Hajji to talk to him. "He shared the information and informed us that he said no. Junet has been assuring Ruto that he can bring Matiangi on board, but our colleague has made it clear that he cannot betray the people of Kenya,”  added Gachagua.

According to the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader, the government, upon failing to secure Matiangi, has resorted to using the criminal justice system to threaten and silence him, citing the Ruaraka land saga as an example.

“They tried to bring an issue about Ruaraka land to threaten him that they can prosecute him for something he did not do. He refused to be intimidated because he never committed any crime. That matter of land was done by PS Belio Kipsang and PS Treasury and Matiang’i had nothing to do with it," he added.

He cautioned any Opposition leader from abandoning the Opposition to either join Ruto or go it alone, saying Kenyans would reject such a leader.

“Kenyans are so persuaded that we cannot afford to make a mistake. They have told us in no uncertain terms that we cannot gabble with this election and the best way of finishing this matter in the first round is one single presidential candidate. Anyone of us who will complicate that equation will have a battle with the people of Kenya; if you try, you'll be on your own,” he said.

He challenged the Opposition leaders to make a public commitment on their readiness to remain united and to agree to back the Opposition Presidential flag bearer who will be selected.

Separately, Former Makandara MP Reuben Ndolo told The Standard that the government had sent emissaries to approach some leaders in Linda Mwananchi to join Ruto’s camp following his ever-rising political star.

“We are aware that the government has panicked and has been trying to reach out to some of the leaders within Linda Mwananchi. They are in panic mode; they thought the Sifuna movement would be a joke but he is now so far,” he said.

Since his ouster as the ODM Secretary General, Sifuna’s meteoric rise, especially in the Western region, has jolted key figures such as Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula who have controlled regional politics for a long time.