Deputy President William Ruto has made it clear that he will be vying for the presidency come 2022.

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However, Ruto's quest for the top seat is marred with challenges that he has to overcome or simply forget about becoming Kenya's next president.

So, what are these hurdles that the son of a peasant farmer must overcome before dreaming of occupying the house on the hill after President Uhuru Kenyatta?

1. Mt Kenya rebellion. Ruto will have an uphill task to win the presidency if Mt Kenya voters decide to abandon him at the hour of need. The DP is mostly banking on the region's vote and that of his hometurf, Rift Valley, to sail to State House.

However, a section of voters from Mt Kenya has started to rebel against Ruto even saying they have no debt owed to Ruto. This can be costly for Ruto if amplified to the ballot.

2. Allegations of corruption. A recent Synovate poll indicates that Ruto is the most corrupt person in Kenya. If there is one thing that can diminish Ruto's chances of ever becoming Kenya's President, it is this perception that he is very corrupt. Kenyans are simply nauseated with corrupt leaders!

Therefore, Ruto must do everything humanly possible to shed off this corruption tag before 2022. How he does it, nobody can tell but time will.

3. Divided stronghold. Ruto is not only facing rebellion only in Mt Kenya but also in his Rift Valley constituency. Senator Gideon Moi promises to be on the ballot and if he walks the talk, Ruto could as well be a cooked goose.

Also in the current wake of Mau evictions, Ruto's stronghold can only rebel further. He must, therefore, consolidate his home turf vote at all costs.

4. The Raila factor. If there is one person who poses a big threat to Ruto's maiden bid for the presidency, it is Raila. Whether Raila will be on the ballot or not, he will be a political whirlwind that Ruto must contain.

Since the handshake, Raila's political capital has been increasing by the day as Ruto's political fortunes seem to dwindle. If he decides to run for the presidency, he will be more than a force to reckon with. Alternatively, he can opt to play the role of a kingmaker. Ruto must counter Raila from both fronts.

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