By Walker MWANDOTO and Eugene OMILO
Former cabinet minister William Ruto is expected to tour the region this weekend in what political pundits say is a move to drum up support for his 2012 presidential bid.
The Eldoret North MP who returned into the country recently from his trip to the Hague, Netherlands, where he was attending the confirmation of charges hearings in his ICC case will lead a section of the G7 Alliance leaders in an extensive tour of Kilifi and Kwale counties and partly Mombasa county to popularise the new political alliance.
Ruto’s spokesman Mr. Kibiwott Korross told CTW that the presidential contender is expected to officiate over several fundraisers before addressing several political rallies in the region.
G7 Alliance leaders Mr. Eugene Wamalwa, Mr. Joshua Kurtuny, Mr. Omingo Magara, Mr. Adan Duale, Mr. Charles Keter, Mr. Chachu Ganya and Mr. Chirau Mwakwere are expected to be in Mr. Ruto’s entourage.
Mr. Mwakwere, Medical assistant minister Kazungu Kambi, Kinango MP Gonzi Rai, former Kisauni MP Anania Mwaboza and Changamwe parliamentary aspirant Mr. David Kimanthi who are key Ruto allies at the Coast are expected to lead other local leaders who will accompany Ruto in his four day itinerary between this Friday and Monday.
This Friday, Mr. Ruto is expected to preside over a fundraising function in aid of women groups at Bamba trading centre in Ganze constituency before moving to Bahari constituency where he will address a political rally at Karisa Maitha stadium in Kilifi town.
Coincidentally, Kilifi DC Katee Mwanza will be on official duty at the Hague where he was picked by the Head of Civil Service Mr. Francis Muthura to testify in the confirmation of charges hearings.
Kilifi county council chairman Mr. Anthony Kingi told CTW that Ruto had taken special interest in the county especially after a local councilor Mr. Hassan Mohammed of Roka ward won a civic by- election in 2009 on a UDM ticket.
Mr. Ruto attended the civic leaders’ homecoming party in Bahari Division three months ago where he was given a rousing reception contrary to assumptions that he was not popular in the region.
During the tour, the former minister donated Sh1 million towards the completion of Chumani Secondary School’s administration block which was under construction.
Mr. Kingi has together with former civic leader Shadrack Lewa urged Kilifi residents to attend the Saturday rally in large numbers.
“Ruto is a friend of the Coastal people. His frequent visits here are not just because of 2012 but he has been involved in development issues in the region together with local leaders since his days of Y2K in 1992,” said Mr. Lewa.
“Coast people should embrace leaders who participate in tangible development agendas.We do not want leaders who come here to popularize their parties but without touching on the real problems on the ground,” said Mr. Kingi.
Mr. Ruto is also expected to tour Kaloleni constituency on Saturday where he will address several rallies.
On Sunday, the Edoret North MP will shift base to the South Coast where he will address residents of Ukunda, Lunga Lunga, Kinango and finally Kwale where Trade minister and Matuga MP Chirau Mwakwere will host a major rally for the G7 Alliance.
“Ruto’s aim is to reach out to voters in all parts of the region, last time, he addressed a rally at Tononoka and now he will be in Kwale to show that he does not undermine the potential of any region,” said Mr. Koross when aksed about the decision to hold the major rally out of Mombasa.
“This is not the last time you will be seeing us in Coast,” he added.
The visit comes barely a fortnight after Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka toured parts of the region to inspect development projects as well as sale his 2012 candidacy.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s press unit has dismissed reports carried in a section of the media claiming that the ODM leader will be visiting the Coast region parallel to a similar by Ruto.
The reports had alleged that the PM would be in the region to tour development projects in the same areas that his political nemesis would be visiting.
The director of communications in the PM’s office Mr. Dennis Onyango said there was no such communication indicating that the PM would be in the region.
“Those were just rumours, the PM will not be visiting the Coast this weekend and if he were to do so, it wont be a calculation to interfere with any other leaders’ visit,” said Mr. Onyango who was incensed by the false reports.
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