Uhuru unleashes State Machinery in Machakos to counter Ruto in show of might

With the upcoming senatorial byelection in Machakos, occasioned by the death of Boniface Kabaka, the president has been keen to clip his deputy’s wings but up until recently, it has been proving a tall order.

Deputy President William Ruto has been able to jump on, and run away with, a campaign narrative based on those on the lowest rung of society’s economic ladder. However, from events of yesterday, it would seem like the president has decided to follow his deputy’s lead, and beat him at his own game.

Yesterday, the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Public Service Youth and Gender, Magaret Kobia, was on a charm offensive in Machakos.

Hosted by the County head governor Alfred Mutua, Magaret Kobia launched a training and assistance program for the area youth engaged in Boda Boda services. Encouraging them to look further ahead, she advised the County’s Boda Boda to make use of the program so that they wouldn’t be misused by politicians or leaders seeking to take advantage of them.

This was a clear allusion to Ruto and his recent activities across the country.

The event in Machakos was followed soon afterwards by another one in Kajiado. Here too, Madam Kobia was welcomed and hosted by the county governor, Ole Lenku.

Here she again helped open sensitisation programs, and repeated her message of self-empowerment to the area youth so as to avoid being misused.

This all comes hot on the heels of a sustained series of scathing attacks from president Uhuru on his deputy, whose climax was a function in Uthiru where the president had gone to open a hospital, and dared his deputy to resign, if he was dissatisfied with the government.

Ruto, on the other hand, has maintained that his sole purpose was always to change the narrative, and have people start talking about the mwananchi at the bottom, and that now since everyone is doing so, his task has thankfully been accomplished.