Deputy President William Ruto's Monday tour of Migori saw him leave a happy man, after residents came out in large numbers to listen to the nation's second in command.
And though very few area leaders were in support of his presence, Ruto would still prove his popularity in the region courtesy of the mammoth crowd that congregated to listen to his stopover in Migori Town.
As is common among human beings, curiosity must have played in, attracting most of the people whose main aim was to lay their eyes on the nations second-most powerful man.
The DP was also hosted by a known public mobiliser in the of Migori Governor Okoth Obado, a man who has twice and singlehandedly defeated the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) wave in the area to clinch the seat.
Obado ascended to the seat in 2013 on the little known People's Democratic Party (PDP), before again beating former Cabinet Minister Ochillo Ayacko for the ODM ticket and in the main polls in 2017.
This was despite the fact that Ayacko has for long been a close ally of ODM chief Raila Odinga.
Ruto, therefore, must have been a beneficiary of Obado's mobilisations skills and since Obado was going to join him, he must have given his all to ensure that crowds gathered to avoid an embarrassment.
His softness on opposition leader Raila Odinga lately must have as well handed him the same as otherwise, he would have been faced with hostility of a mega snub.
However, the DP should not mistake that to mean that he is gaining ground in the region.
He should not expect the numbers to reflect in his ballot as he seeks to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2022.
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