Why Deputy President William Ruto cannot be ignored

Kenya: Deputy President William Samoei Ruto has of late been a man under siege. From the ICC issue to the home ground political intrigues to the national challenges. Although analysts say that the geneses of his woes are self-inflicted, as Rift Valley rivalries heats up, he is still the man to watch!

Ever since he warned his political enemies that “The writings are on the wall!” he has minced his words. He has tested the ground to caution his political rivals and detractors. The DP has in the recent past publically announced that he would back his boss, President Uhuru for another re-election come what may and would continue to root for Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) as the President’s political vehicle come the 2017 polls.

However, Ruto’s political enemies in Rift Valley seem to retreat. Speculations by some media houses that ODM leader Raila Odinga has recently held talks with Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto at a Nairobi hotel in an attempt to merge Okoa Kenya Campaign and Pesa Mashinani initiatives, is likely to be an alliance of convenience before the next general Elections. Governor Rutto, a hardliner, seems to have shifted position all together by abandoning support for his URP sponsor and the entire Jubilee leadership altogether.

But Baringo Senator Gideon Moi who has opposed the move to merge all the parties not only in Rift Valley but in the entire country, is said to be “softening” his stand against the deputy president. His body language during the burial ceremony of the Late Noah Arap Too, showed it all. The younger Moi said that he was respectful of the person and position of the Deputy President.

Mr. Ruto mind you, is enjoying support not only from the President, but the entire Jubilee leadership from other regions like Meru, Central and Nairobi. His confidence has given him enormous support and strength. In Lari, Kiambu last week, Ruto told the wananchi that JAP would be formidable political force by 2017 and would guarantee an easy win with a larger margin than before.

And in Nairobi, the area MPs who expressed support for UhuruRuto and entire JAP leadership warned that all the three CORD co-principals are expected to square it out with Mr. Odinga having expressed interest in being coalition’s flag bearers.

They stressed that they would support Ruto since he had shelved his presidential ambitions in 2013 to support Uhuru as agreed in their pre-election deal. In turn, President Uhuru Kenyatta promised to support Ruto’s bid in 2022, and back home, local leaders have vowed to support the Ruto when his turn comes.

Ruto’s happiness is expressed in his own campaign and convincing words: “In 2013, we vied in a coalition pack of many parties. Now we want all these parties to come together for the sake of unity of this country! There are people who have been thriving politically by exercising divisive and tribal politics but the writing is on the wall …”

Across Kenya though, the DP seems to gain great political sympathy and support. The Elgeyo/ Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and the Lari MP Mburu Kahagara criticized those linking DP Ruto to corruption cases. They say it is a ploy by his political opponents who want to scuttle his bid to succeed President Kenyatta after he retires.

The political wave against Ruto seems to shrink as days pass by. Six Jubilee MPs in Nairobi have claimed that the tenders for Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital were brokered by an affiliate of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his then Health Services Minister, Prof. Anyang Nyong’o as a well calculated political mischief – who should not be taken seriously by Kenyan populace who can easily determine the truth and are able to criticize and differentiate political theatrics played by Ojwang’s narratives in the name of “whistle blower!”

Kurgat Martin Seronei,Is a lecturer at the School of Information Sciences, Moi University in Eldoret.