Ruto knew that he needed Mt Kenya support for him to rise to presidency and that is why he never focused on aggravating the mt Kenya support base. This is the main reason he decided to support Uhuru for two terms because then he was sure he will use ten years to build links and connections with the GEMA. In these ten years he also focused on building strong relations with leaders with great grassroot support in the GEMA and other parts of the country. Ruto also exploited the hatred that GEMA has for Raila knowing that after Uhuru term is over the only major competitor against him would be Raila who he knew does not command any support or love in the mountain. That is why Ruto has always directed his attacks on Raila and never at Uhuru even when he knows Uhuru is fighting him because he knows Uhuru is a non issue at this point.
Raila on the other hand played a politics of gamble. He has always aggravated the mountain. While he could have used the 2002 NARC coalition and Coalition Govt to woo the mountain, he chose to not to, but rebelled under the Kibaki NARC goverment and even in Grand coalition he was still doing the same. This is why it has been difficult for Raila to win the support of GEMA. Even now Raila is still using wrong strategies to woo GEMA which shall fall flat. He is trying to use the Kikuyu elders and Uhuru support to endear himself to GEMA something which wont work because the GEMA people see it as a leader being imposed on them. Ruto on the other hand after 2013 elections made it habit to use govt machinery to launch projects in GEMA, attend the harambees and church functions and others and thus endeared himself to the common man while Uhuru was busy drinking and sleeping in state house. And come during 2017 elections he came forward as the greatest defender of Jubilee govt when he fought NASA politically himself and told them off during campaigns and after nullification of the elections.
Raila is trying the same right now, acting as a defender of govt and Uhuru playboy so as to woo GEMA but its too late because GEMA can see his hypocrisy and now the Uhuru govt is much unpopular in the ground. Raila lost the chance post 2002 and pre 2013 which he should have used.
Raila on the other hand played a politics of gamble. He has always aggravated the mountain. While he could have used the 2002 NARC coalition and Coalition Govt to woo the mountain, he chose to not to, but rebelled under the Kibaki NARC goverment and even in Grand coalition he was still doing the same. This is why it has been difficult for Raila to win the support of GEMA. Even now Raila is still using wrong strategies to woo GEMA which shall fall flat. He is trying to use the Kikuyu elders and Uhuru support to endear himself to GEMA something which wont work because the GEMA people see it as a leader being imposed on them. Ruto on the other hand after 2013 elections made it habit to use govt machinery to launch projects in GEMA, attend the harambees and church functions and others and thus endeared himself to the common man while Uhuru was busy drinking and sleeping in state house. And come during 2017 elections he came forward as the greatest defender of Jubilee govt when he fought NASA politically himself and told them off during campaigns and after nullification of the elections.
Raila is trying the same right now, acting as a defender of govt and Uhuru playboy so as to woo GEMA but its too late because GEMA can see his hypocrisy and now the Uhuru govt is much unpopular in the ground. Raila lost the chance post 2002 and pre 2013 which he should have used.
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