MP Kanini Kega: Ruto's lead in Mt. Kenya is temporary

While dismissing DP Ruto's by-election victories in the region, the lawmaker claims that announcing Ruto's victory is premature, claiming that Ruto is simply setting the pace for his rivals.

MP Kanini further attributed the introduction of the Political Parties Amendment Bill stating that it will cure the dissarays in nominations that he says gave DP Ruto leeway to dominate.

"Ruto's lead in Central is temporary and I think he ran too fast, like a pacesetter. He has been dictating the pace but when the bell rings he will fall off," he said while speaking to Daily Nation.

"We messed in nominations in some of the by-elections like in Rurii and that is why we came up with the Political Parties Amendments Bill to cure such messes. But by any way, mini polls are not the best indicators of one's popularity," he added.

Similarly, he dismissed claims that President Uhuru Kenyatta's popularity is waning in his home region of Central Kenya, claiming that these are assumptions propagated by DP Ruto's advisers.

President Kenyatta remains in command of the Mt. Kenya region, according to him, and is a well-groomed leader both at home and abroad.

"That is one of the assumptions the advisers of Ruto have made. They assumed he would be a lame-duck president but you can see that he is still the most sought after leader in the country and even beyond our borders," he posed.

"Even those claiming that he has lost his popularity are behind the scenes seeking to reconcile him with the DP because they know he still commands Mt.Kenya."

President Kenyatta's Sagana III convention, which will set the tone for his succession ahead of the 2022 elections, will, according to the lawmaker, put an end to all succession speculations.

The president seems hell-bent on railroading his wish on the Mt Kenya voters and in extension, whoever succeeds him against a tide that is completely indifferent.

"We are still waiting for it but people can read the lips of a few of us to know the direction and what will happen in Sagna III. We will meet as Mt.Kenya and we will leave there speaking in one voice."