Kilifi’s social media is currently awash with the visit of Deputy William Ruto in Kilifi county over the weekend with the groups entangled in a tight debate over the presence of the The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) enthusiasts in Kilifi County.
Kilifi’s mostly known WhatsApp groups ‘Cheche’ and ‘Dhome’ has since the arrival of the DP during a burial in Kilifi south on Saturday seen supporters of the DP and those of Raila Odinga engage in heated debate over the 2022 General elections and how Kilifi is positioning itself as the electioneering period nears.
The DP was on Saturday at Kidutani village during the burial of Mzee Bishop George Mwangome Chipa and his brother Adam Goe Chipa.
The DP who was in the company of his close allies led by Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa and Kilifi north MP Owen Baya where he said the government was keen on competing all projects earmarked for the region.
Kaloleni MP Paul Katana, his Kinango counterpart Benjamin Tayari and Kilifi South MP Ken Chonga were also present.
During the burial, Mr Chonga a close ally of opposition leader Raila Odinga asked the DP to make sure all the incomplete infrastructures by the national government are completed.
But the DP told Mr Chonga to visit his office for more deliberations on the same instead of using funerals to communicate.
“Please my office is open, always visit if you want to talk about roads in this region. We can discuss that for the benefit of the people instead of telling the same in a funeral,” the DP said.
The DP on Sunday service at St Patrick Catholic church near Kilifi bus terminal where he was accompanied by a host of politicians, some aspiring and those already serving.
At the church, the DP said his bottom up approach towards the economic development of the country is still on course and that Kenyans should make sure this happens in the next year General Election.
Ms Jumwa used the platform to sell her gubernatorial bid to the congregation stating that she was ready to be the change that Kilifi wants.
Thereafter, the DP in a convoy made a stopover at Pwani University in Kibaoni where the DP addressed the residents and said that the tamarcking of the Bamba-Ganze-Kilifi road will start soon.
But since then, the social media has been awash with the DP events with some of the aspirants already declaring their support for DP in their social media pages.
One of them Chigiri Dunga who is eyeing the Chasimba MCA seat in Kilifi South posted a photo of himself together with the DP at the church and immediately declared his support for Ruto as his President in the next year General Election.
“Game Over. My Presidential Vote is gone to Deputy President William Samoei Ruto. My Gubernatorial Vote is gone to Hon. Aisha Jumwa. My Senatorial Vote is gone to Lawyer George Kithi. My MP Vote is gone to Hon. Ken Nyale. My Women Rep vote to either go to Juliet Riziki Kachachawa or Sanita Mwayule depending on the nomination outcome. My MCA Vote is Gone to Mtetezi Chigiri C. Dunga.
That is my lineup,” Chigiri posted in his Facebook page. The statement was accompanied Mr Chigiri posing with the DP and another Kilifi County Women Rep aspirant Santa Mwanyule.
The foray into Kilifi by Deputy President is seen as an attempt to try his luck on the region that has for many years been dominated by Mr Odinga and his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.
Currently there has been calls that the Coast region forms a political party (Tufe) that is expected to be the new outfit that will be used by some aspiring candidates in the next year General Election.
In Kilifi, the DP will be depending on Ms Jumwa, Owen and Mr Katana to bring votes into his basket as he focuses on taking over from his boss, President Uhuru Kenyatta in the next year General Election.
