Kenya Kwanza coalition deal exposes intense horse-trading in Ruto's camp

Kenya kwanza team led by Deputy President William Ruto, Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula and Musalia Mudavadi during a political rally in Kitale Trans Nzoia County on May,5,2022. [Christopher Kipsang, Standard]

After meeting leaders from the 11 counties of Mt Kenya region in May last year, Deputy President William Ruto released a statement titled ‘The New Politics’ where he spoke at length about starting a new conversation, one “that is not about leaders, their positions and their ambitions.”

In what would become the refrain of his campaign, Ruto said “over the years, political positions have been created, power has been shared this way and that way, leaders’ interests have been catered for but this has not improved the lot of the overwhelming majority of Kenyans.”