Political analyst Herman Manyora has explained that Deputy President, William Ruto, is the biggest loser after the Catholic and Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) barred politicians from the pulpit.
Speaking on KTN News on Monday, September 13, the political analyst argued that opponents of the Deputy President had the government muscle hence a wide range of options to carry on with their campaigns.
Manyora noted that through the government, the team could use provincial administration system such as chiefs and sub-chiefs to reach a bigger population.
Ruto and his allies, on the other hand, had the church as part of integral platforms from which to conduct his campaigns ahead of the 2022 General Election.
The other better option, holding rallies, is still on hold with the Ministry of Health controlling the number of attendees per function in an attempt to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
“I can see this thing affecting William Ruto much more because those on the other side have government on their side. They can reach people through provincial administration including the chiefs and assistant chiefs,” stated Manyora.
The analyst further argued that those allied to the state had the privilege of power in which the government can break the law once in a while and look away.
With the Covid-19 restrictions in place, Manyora also reckoned that the race would narrow down to rich competitors able to sustain campaigns through digital media platforms.
“If it becomes impossible to engage through those traditional avenues, then the game must change. I am talking about social media, mainstream media and town halls and I can see this affecting some people more than others,” he added.
The analysis comes after Catholic Archbishop, Anthony Muheria, and his Anglican Church of Kenya counterpart, Jackson Ole Sapit, barred politicians from politicking in churches.
Sapit barred former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, and Amani National Congress (ANC) leader, Musalia Mudavadi, from speaking at a church function on Sunday, September 12.
Sapit was attending the consecration of Rev. Rose Okeno as the Bishop of the Butere Diocese at the Butere Girls Secondary School in Kakamega County, where Odinga and Mudavadi were invited guests.
Muheria, on the other hand, released an audio file barring the politicians from Catholic pulpits on the same day.
Ruto allies seemed enthusiastic about the move arguing that their leader had for months been attack for his generous donations to churches countrywide.
The DP had been trying to innovate his campaign strategies and on Saturday, September 11, addressed a zoom meeting that was attended by 500 participants with 18,000 others following live on YouTube.