Citizen Tv senior political journalist Francis Gachuri has given an analysis on why the Raila-led Azimio coalition failed to scoop Mt. Kenya votes in the just concluded elections.
Raila had high hopes of clinching the presidential seats in 2022 because he had support from the Mt. Kenya region, contrary to his previous attempts. He also had the support of President Uhuru Kenyatta, who campaigned massively for him in the region.
Raila, however, failed as the region voted massively for his main opponent William Ruto.
According to Gachuri, the Azimio team failed because of many factors that favored Ruto.
Mkenya Leo discusses these factors.
Rebel Against President Uhuru
One of the key reasons Raila failed in the region was the protest against Uhuru. Gachuri explained that the region was tired of President Uhuru and his ideologies, and that is why they refused to accept Raila.
He explained that there were also allegations that the president had abandoned the region since he took over. President Uhuru did not visit the region as many times as people had expected, leading to them concluding that he was no longer interested in them. The fact that his government allowed the importation of goods also angered the region, considering it is the hub of manufacturing most goods that Kenyans use.
Harsh Economic Times
According to Gachuri, the high cost of living under President Uhuru’s government fueled the protest against Raila in the region. People felt they had to get rid of President Uhuru, leading to them not listening to him when he asked them to vote for Raila.
Ruto’s Early Campaign
Another factor that worked against Raila in Mt. Kenya, as Gachuri explains, is how Ruto started campaigning early. While Raila was concentrating on the Handshake politics, Ruto was busy seeking the people’s favor on the ground. Gachuri gave an example of the many times Ruto visited churches and functions in the regions. These visits made people feel like Ruto was part of them, making it easy for them to choose him over Raila.
Uhuru Sidelining Ruto
We all know President Uhuru fell out with his deputy Ruto since the Handshake politics started. Uhuru put Ruto out of the governmental functions, a move that worked against Raila. According to Gachuri, sidelining Ruto from the government meant that he was not part of the harsh economic times people have experienced since 2018. This view made Ruto a better candidate because he gave people hope that he would improve lives.
