Deputy President William Ruto is determined to go all the way and contest for the country's top seat in 2022 whether Mt Kenya region supports him or not.
Ruto has recently been busy campaigning in various regions of the country as it emerged last week that he may have started early campaigns in preparation for the polls.
But what secret card does he hold just in case Central Kenya does not back him?
The DP has been busy building alliances with leaders outside Central Kenya including Western, Coast, Ukambani as well as North Eastern.
The last trip he made outside Mt Kenya region was in South Nyanza where he met with a cross-section of leaders from the vote-rich Nyamira and Kisii Counties.
He has also held similar talks with leaders from the Coast region including Governors Salim Mvurya (Kwale) and Amason Kingi (Kilifi).
The two have expressed willingness to work with the DP ahead of 2022. A host of MPs from Coast region have also rallied their support behind Ruto and the last one who was expected to do so in opposition chief Raila Odinga's close ally and Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa.
In North Eastern region the former Eldoret North MP has managed to remain close to the region's point-man Aden Duale who he is banking on to help campaign for him at the volatile region.
Ruto has also since President Uhuru Kenyatta was re-elected toured the Western region and has held meetings with MPs from the region at his Karen home in Nairobi.
If the DP manages to secure at least half of the votes from each of these regions, he will be okay to go it alone since chances are high that he would bag majority of the votes in Rift Valley where he comes from.
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