Rift Valley leaders allege new plot to block Deputy President William Ruto’s 2022 dream

Sustained political attacks on Deputy President William Ruto by the Opposition are targeted at ruining his chances of becoming President in 2022, North Rift leaders say.

Ruto allies now claims that after the collapse of the International Criminal Court (ICC) cases at The Hague, the DP's detractors are resorting to 'name tarnishing with an aim of bringing down' the DP'.

Elected leaders from North Rift, the home turf of Ruto, said the DP will not be contesting the presidency in next year's General Election and therefore should not be subjected to unwarranted name-calling.

The leaders, who included Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, MPs Cornelly Serem (Aldai), Julius Melly (Tinderet) and Elisha Businei (Turbo) separately told The Standard on Sunday that Jubilee would not be cowed down by the frequent attacks but will instead focus on service delivery to Kenyans.

"The opposition is desperate and have no hope in next year's election because it is clear President Uhuru Kenyatta will win. 2017 is concluded and the opposition is preparing for 2022, which we are also confident that Ruto will win," said Murkomen on phone.

He added: "The opposition is seeing Ruto as a stumbling block," adding that CORD had wanted to use ICC to divide Uhuru and Ruto.

Serem said: "ICC was their project but after it failed, the opposition have become frustrated and have now resorted to peddling rumours to taint the DP."

Without substantiating, Serem claimed that after sensing defeat, the opposition had resorted to maligning others' names.

Melly said Ruto will triumph despite political wars against him.

Busienei said the opposition knew Ruto is a strong political leader. "2017 is as good as done and 2022 will be the same," he added.