Quest for Nyanza Votes as DP Ruto is Set to Meet the Region Leaders

The two-day meeting that starts tomorrow in Naivasha will discuss DP Ruto’s bottom-up economic model that he believes will turn around the country’s economy.

“He will hold them for a two-day retreat to discuss the economic situation of the region in line with his proposed bottom-up economic model,” Ruto’s communications director Emmanuel Talam said.

Ruto and his economic think tanks have devised the bottom-up economic model that he believes will to uplift millions of Kenyans caged in the poverty corner.

“Bottom-up economy model will lift the millions of people in our nation that today either are jobless or are hustling and pastoralists and herders who are on food relief,” Ruto said at his Karen residence on Thursday.

Seen as part of the DP’s efforts to penetrate the Nyanza region, the meeting comes barely three months after tens of leaders from Nyanza met with Ruto's team to craft an economic blueprint for the region that would form part of his manifesto.

Nyanza, Raila’s backyard, has proved to be a hard nut to crack for the DP, who has set his eyes on the Presidency in the 2022 general election.

The ODM leader, seen as Ruto's main challenger in the race, is the region’s political kingpin, and has maintained a firm grip and enjoyed near-fanatical support for decades.

In fact, this is the first time a group is emerging to chart a different political path, challenging Raila’s dominance of the region.

In May, top politicians from the region converged at Hermosa Hotel in Nairobi to craft the blueprint for Nyanza, which will be at the center of discussion at the retreat.

The team included former Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma, former Cabinet Minister Dalmas Otieno, former Raila’s campaign manager Eliud Owalo, ex-Rangwe MP Martin Ogindo, Citizens Convention Party leader Grace Akumu, former East Africa Portland Cement and Muhoroni Sugar Co Ltd managing director John Nyambok,