Ruto takes Jubilee campaigns to Kakamega, Vihiga and Nandi

DP William Ruto leads Jubilee campaigns in Vihiga on July 25, 2017. PHOTO | DERICK LUVEGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Ruto will campaign at Butali in Kakamega and Hamisi in Vihiga.
  • In 2013, President Kenyatta came third after Mr Odinga and Mr Mudavadi in the region.
  • Ruto's visit is expected to bolster efforts by grassroots leaders to ensure Jubilee gets a fair share of the region's 1.9 million voters.

Deputy President William Ruto is Tuesday reaching out to voters in Kakamega, Vihiga and later in Nandi County with a series of rallies.

Mr Ruto, who has in the past made several visits in the two counties, will campaign at Butali in Kakamega and Hamisi in Vihiga.

Jubilee officials in the region said the ruling party is keen on tapping into the 18 per cent undecided voters.

In 2013, President Uhuru Kenyatta came third after ODM leader Mr Raila Odinga and ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi in the number of votes garnered in the region.

In Vihiga, Mr Kenyatta got 2,542 votes against Mr Mudavadi's 82,426 and Mr Odinga's 77,825.

The president garnered 12,469 votes in Kakamega County where Mr Odinga led with 303,120 votes while Mr Mudavadi had 144,962 votes.

It is these figures that Jubilee wants to eat into ahead of the August 8 polls.

GOVERNMENT PROJECTS

The Deputy President is expected to highlight what the government has done for the two counties and its plans after the polls.

Jubilee Western Region Coordinator Hudson Aluvanze said the visit by the Deputy President will bolster efforts by grassroots leaders to ensure the party gets a fair share of the region's 1.9 million voters.

Mr Aluvanze said they are already holding a series of meetings to tap into the undecided voters.

He said grassroots leaders have already held strategy meetings in Kakamega, Busia, Bungoma and Vihiga counties.

"We aim at reaching the silent majority who are yet to make up their mind on whom to vote for," said Mr Aluvanze.

JUBILEE AGENDA

He added, "During the meetings, we advance the agenda of the government as we reach out to all the counties in this region."

The Jubilee official said the government had achieved 98 per cent of its pledges to the region that is perceived to be an opposition bedrock.

"Let us not look at the two per cent that has not been done. 98 per cent of Jubilee pledges have been achieved and that is what we should look at," said Mr Aluvanze.

Mr Aluvanze was joined by the ambassador to the United Nation Office in Nairobi (UNON) Ms Yvonne Khamati, an appointee of the Jubilee government.

She said: "Those of us who work for the Jubilee government are here to tell the people what Jubilee has done for the last four years."

They noted that President Uhuru Kenyatta had initiated projects in various sectors such as water, markets, education, electricity, infrastructure and street lighting.

They also said various people from the region had been appointed to senior positions in government and urged the electorate to vote for Jubilee.