A Jubilee Party politician is optimistic Deputy President William Ruto will receive overwhelming support from the vote-rich Mount Kenya region in his 2022 presidential bid.
Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot said that despite the differences between the supporters of President Uhuru Kenyatta and those of his deputy, he was confident voters in Uhuru's backyard would rally behind Ruto to become Kenya's fifth president.
Speaking at Moi Sitotwet Secondary School over the weekend, Cheruiyot likened Uhuru-Ruto political union to a marriage which has worked, saying the DP will treat Kikuyu community with respect just like the President has done to the Kalenjins.
"But you have to know that in political marriages, roles change; you could be a husband or bridegroom in this government and a wife or bride in the next," the Senator said.
"Even in Jubilee, the Kalenjin were the bride during the first term, and we got all that we asked for and our bills footed. Now we are the groom. We will be footing bills for our bride from the mountain, which is one taxing thing to do,” Cheruiyot said as quoted by Sunday Nation.
His remarks come at a time the ongoing debate in Central Kenya on whether to back Ruto in the next election has elicited mixed reactions.
Some leaders such as Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung'wa argue that Kikuyus must rally behind the DP for supporting Uhuru in the last two polls, while others like Nyeri Town legislator Ngunjiri Wambugu have maintained Central has no 'debt' to pay to Ruto and, therefore, voters should be left free to make their choice.