Even before the dust settles in Migori, Deputy President William Ruto will this Thursday return to South Nyanza, a stronghold of Raila Odinga as 2022 politics take shape.
Last week, Ruto was dragged into Migori senatorial by-election where little known Eddy Oketch gave ODM candidate Ochillo Ayacko a lifetime scare, a race the the Orange party accused Ruto of bankrolling the young Oketch.
"The Migori contest was not between Raila and Ruto because they were not in ballot. And in any case, Ruto doesn't know Oketch," read a statement from Ruto's office.
In the competition in which Raila campaigned twice for Ayacko, Oketch narrowly lost by 25,000 votes, in a region believed to be an ODM stronghold.
And on Thursday, few kilometres from Migori, in Keroka's Ichuni Parish, Ruto will be camping in the populous Gusii region to mobilise for support.
"The DP will be official guest at Amabuko for a fund raiser. The fund drive will cater for Amabuko and Kiamirega Catholic churches," said Nyaribari Masaba MP Ezekiel Machogu.
Ruto's team had intensified campaigns in Kisii, Nyamira and Migori Counties, regions which they believe are soft grounds for his campaigns.
While Kisii and Nyamira are occupied by Abagugii, Migori is largely cosmopolitan with Luo and Kuria communities taking a larger stake.
"We just studying the ground that's why we retreated. We shall come back soon," Job Ong'era, a strategist for Ruto had said.
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