Former Bomet governor Isaac Ruto is one of the strong politicians in the Rift Valley region.
He is popularly known for standing on what he believes in.
The veteran politician stood against the strong Jubilee waves in 2017 and was branded a Jubilee rebel and Kalenjin tribe’s traitor as he led his Chama cha Mashinani (CCM) to Join the oppositions' National Super Alliance (NASA).
Isaac Ruto’s political nature started a long time ago during the retired President Daniel Moi's regime.
Ruto was in university when he first clashed with Mzee Moi.
Here are two instances where Moi punished Isaac Ruto for his rebellious character;
1982
This happened during the failed coup attempt in 1882. By then, he was the vice chairman for the Students Organization at the Nairobi University. Together with his chairman Titus Adungosi, the former governor was arrested and detained having been accused of sympathizing with the forces involved in the coup. He was released after one month in custody while his friend Titus Adungosi later died in prison.
2001
During one of his business tours when Isaac Ruto was an assistant Minister, retired president Moi left him stranded at an airport in South Africa. This came after Mzee Moi had sacked Prof. George Saitoti who was his Vice President (VP).
"I heard that he had sacked (then VP George) Saitoti and Kalonzo Musyoka. When he arrived in Pretoria, I asked him: “If you sack these guys, won’t it complicate matters for our Kanu candidate?" Ruto is quoted in a local publication.
"Later Biwott called me to ask whether I was the leader of Kanu in Kenya and I told him to go to hell. In the evening, I sent my bags to the cargo section but they were returned," he adds.
After the incident, the former Chepalungu MP had to remain in South Africa for some more days as he sought funds to return back home.
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