Ruto’s work cut out in the Rift despite winning in Kericho

Despite Jubilee’s big win in Kericho senatorial by-election, the ruling coalition’s camp cannot afford to celebrate for too long.

Although the victory would suggest that Deputy President William Ruto still has a firm grip on his Rift Valley stronghold, the undercurrents signalling some resistance to the status quo cannot be  ignored.

Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) candidate Aaron Cheruiyot may have secured the seat to become the Kericho senator-elect to replace Charles Keter, but the impressive showing by his main rival Paul Sang must have caused some concern.

Cheruiyot garnered 109,358 votes to secure the seat ahead of Sang’s 56,307, a difference of about 53,000 votes.

However, Sang’s tally was an improvement on the 36,000 votes he garnered in the 2013 General Election when he lost out to Keter,  now the Cabinet Secretary for Energy.

Ruto’s campaign  team is not taking Cheruiyot’s  victory for granted and the Deputy President is  planning a mammoth thank-you rally in Kericho.

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“It is true that he has not made any public statement about the victory, but he has his own plans and will soon give a big thank you to the people of Kericho,” said his communications officer David Mugonyi.

Not doing enough

During the campaigns, Ruto came under sustained attack from Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto and rebel URP MPs who threw their weight behind Sang.

These leaders accused the DP of not doing enough to have more development projects directed to the South Rift region.  This could explain why the Deputy President turned a by-election of  JAP’s flag bearer Cheruiyot into what appeared like a personal crusade.

The Kanu candidate capitalised on the  anti-Ruto sentiments and on many occasions appeared to have the DP on the defensive.

“I have heard that you want to vote for the other side so that Jubilee notices you. Even if you want to punish me, please do not use a big stick to punish me,” Ruto told a campaign rally.

Now savouring victory, his allies say he will be addressing all issues raised by the Sang campaign.

Energy CS Keter said the DP would ensure Jubilee’s pledges made regarding development projects in the South Rift are  fulfilled.

“The DP is very alive to the issues the residents of  Kericho raised during the campaign. He is ready to put his house in order. His critics are not completely silenced but he has proved to them that he is still king of the Rift,” said Keter.

Kipchumba Murkomen, the Elgeyo Marakwet senator and ally of the DP, described the by-election as a referendum that demonstrated Kalenjin unity.

Ruto’s climbdown appeared to win over some  sympathy, especially when he asked voters not to embarrass him.

Even though  a sizeable electorate had seriously considered voting for the Kanu candidate, the voters were boxed in because they realised a protest vote could be interpreted to mean they had lost confidence in the DP, an analyst observed.

“The complex situation left them in a corner. The only option  was to vote for Jubilee,” said Kisii University political science lecturer Joel Soi.

Dr Philip Chebunet, a political analyst and lecturer at Kabianga University, says the win had strengthened the DP’s position within the Jubilee coalition.

“Ruto managed to sway the voters by aligning his message on the need for Kalenjin unity and the 2022 succession politics. These issues resonated well with many voters initially opposed to JAP,” said Chebunet.

However, the DP must move to quell the resurgence of Kanu in the Rift Valley, and this battle is not over, he observed.