DP Ruto heads to Kiambu on Sunday for a mega rally

Deputy President William Ruto is set to return to Kiambu County on Sunday for a mega rally ahead of UDA nominations slated for next week on Thursday.

This is the second time the DP will be visiting Kiambaa after his party won the parliamentary seat early last year.

On Sunday, Ruto will be expected to hold several stops over in both Kiambaa and Kikuyu constituency where Njuguna Wanjiku (Ka Wanjiku) and Kimani Ichungwa will be the host.

Last month, the deputy president held a mega rally in Uhuru’s home town Gatundu South where he drummed support for his candidates and his presidential bid.

The DP used his recent visit to Kiambu and urged locals to support his presidential bid and shun that of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga whom president Uhuru is endorsing as the preferable successor.

Speaking on Friday, Kiambaa MP Ka-Wanjiku confirmed the deputy president’s visit in the area.

He said that the DP will attend a church service at ACK at Muongoiya before holding a series of meetings with local leaders as well as grassroots leaders.

He said that the DP will be accompanied by Rigathi Gachagua (Mathira), Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu), and Kimani Ichungwa (Kikuyu), Kithure Kindiki (Tharaka Nithi), and a host of aspirants in Kenya Kwanza alliance.

“The deputy president’s visit in Kiambaa has been confirmed and we are ready for him, his tour in Kiambu will confirm the commitment he has for his supporters in the larger county, “he said.

DP will tour places like Kiambia (junction), Banana, Limuru, Thigio, Ruthigiti, and finally Kikuyu town.

Ruto will use his visit in the area  to rally Kiambu electorates to support the UDA party and its candidates during the nomination exercise slated on Thursday.

The MP further revealed the UDA party has agreed to issue him with a direct ticket and thus he won’t be subjected to the nomination exercise.

“UDA party has only one candidate in Kiambaa and that means I won’t be subjected to nomination exercise,” Kawanjiku said.

On Friday, the deputy president broke the deal between Kiambu speaker Stephen Ndichu and Karungo Thangwa.

Speaker Ndichu agreed to step down for Karungo and to support his senatorial seat in August. Karungu lost in 2017 to Senator Kimani Wamatangi on the Jubilee ticket.

Speaking Karungo Thangwa thanked the deputy president William Ruto for uniting UDA aspirants.

He expressed confidence that the nomination exercise will be free and fair noting that a lot of deliberations are currently ongoing within the UDA.

“I’m very happy for my party leader William Ruto and my worth competitor speaker Stephen Ndichu for accepting to support my senatorial bid,” Karungo said.

He expressed confidence that the people of Kiambu will support deputy president William Ruto and his party members.

He dismissed the Jubilee party in Kiambu County noting that the recent win in Kiambaa marked their end.

“We are going back to Kiambaa on Sunday as part of the memorial of what happened to them a year back, we will celebrate with area MP on what he has achieved in the shortest time he has been in office,” Karungo said.

He said that Kenyans are tired of Jubilee’s tactics of intimidating aspirants in the Mount Kenya region.

Political analysts cum columnist with star Albert Kasembeli has said that the deputy president’s visit to Mount Kenya is planned on neutralizing President Uhuru’s influence.

He said that the numerous visits are aimed to whip the emotions of the locals and support his bid.

“Deputy President is trying to whip the emotions of the Mount Kenya voters and be given sympathy votes, “he said.

Recently, elders from the Kikuyu Council of elders warned deputy president William Ruto of dire consequences for disrespecting the head of state and former first lady Ngina Kenyatta.

They accused DP Ruto of hiding behind Mount Kenya legislatures allied to his party which has developed tendencies of abusing leaders during their rallies.