As President Uhuru Kenyatta intensifies his succession battle with his Deputy, Dr. William Ruto met Rift Valley Council of Elders at his Karen home on Thursday.
His meeting with elders from his backyard emerged after claims that President Kenyatta was planning a new strategy to take him ahead of the 2022 polls.
While the President is using church and community elders from both Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities to neutralize Ruto, Ruto is using the Kalenjin, Kisii, Luhya, and Kikuyu council elders.
And according to pundits, Ruto’s strategy will help him garner a sizable number of non-Kalenjin voters come 2022.
Rift Valley Council of Elders chair Kabage on Saturday told Nation that he led a delegation of 50 elders from Nakuru, Laikipia, Baringo, Uasin Gishu, and Trans Nzoia counties at the DP official home in Karen.
Sources say William Ruto affirmed to the elders that he was eying the presidency.
“Dr. Ruto said he had not changed his mind about becoming the next President,” said Mr. Kabage.
According to Mr. Kabage, the agenda of the visit was peace and they assured the DP of their supports and could not hide it because the peace they enjoy is not determined by Mt Kenya politicians.
“We have been seeking to visit the DP since 2015. This time around we managed to get an opportunity to talk to the DP,” he said.
He added that the succession must be smooth and that no amount of arm-twisting will stop the DP in his bid to succeed Mr. Kenyatta.
“Our Constitution vouches for unity governments. This new strategy of taking elders to Uganda might be hidden in the Building Bridges Initiative report,” Mr. Kabage said.
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“What will Mt Kenya gain by having its kingdom yet millions of community members live in the Rift Valley? Where do they expect us to go after they form their kingdom? We can’t all fit in this kind of arrangement and that is why our support is solidly for Dr. Ruto.”
The elders said the only recognize the November 2, 2022 handshake between President Kenyatta and Ruto at Afraha Stadium, Nakuru.
They suggested that if the handshake between Kenyatta and Ruto was dead then they should be called and declare the political marriage dissolved and they will then respect their decision.
