By Obegi Malack
@obegimalack
Deputy President William Ruto presidential bid has suffered a major setback after President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed Kajiado County Governor Joseph ole Lenku to popularize Building Bridges’ initiative (BBI).
The president had held a meeting with county bosses where he gave the governor the role of co-ordinating the BBI campaigns in South Rift region with focus in Kajiado, Narok and Samburu counties.
The appointment of Lenku is perceived as to be a major setback to Ruto campaigns from 2020 presidential position. The DP has been against BBI meetings.
Another leader who is now drumming support for BBI is former Kajiado governor David Nkedianye. The former governor had attended the Saturday meeting in Kakamega where he said that his community in Narok, Kajiado and Samburu will benefit a lot if the document is implemented .
The two governors have been playing it low on the issue. Nkedianye said a Maasai will get top position in 2022 through BBI. He was accompanied by politicians Joseph Kiambati, Julius Sunkuli and Lydia Ntimama
Last year Uhuru had also appointed Environment CS Keriako Tobiko to lead the campaigns for the BBI report. The appointments sideline Dr Ruto and his allies, who have openly opposed to the BBI meetings.
The appointment of the two leaders in drumming support for implementation of the BBI is a blow to the DP who has been traversing the Maasai counties popularizing himself for 2022 top position.
The DP had said no one has a problem with the BBI and argued that the report should be implemented and the resources being used be channeled to development.
“It was made clear by the President that copies should be made available for the people to decide for themselves. Why is it now that it is the leaders who are making decisions for the people, where do they find the money to campaign for a document that has no opposition?” Ruto said after he had attended a meeting in Emuhaya and Tongaren constituencies.
The DP has been in Kajiado several times ushered by Lenku. Apart from his major investments in the county he has friendship with some politicians who he visits often.
During the Jubilee nominations exercise whereby former senator Peter Mositet and Tarayia Kores lost to Lenku, the two leaders claimed the DP was behind their troubles and have been opposing his leadership since then. They have been behind BBI initiative with Mositet claiming Lenku was against the initiative.