Despite Uasin Gishu and the North Rift as a whole being the Deputy President William Ruto's home turf and political zone, there are visible loopholes looming on how he is treated by the Jubilee government.
The fact that the Ruto is actively participating in development programs across the country every weekend, some of his close allies in the North Rift have made clear their worries claiming that he has been sidelined.
They want President Uhuru Kenyatta to openly declare his support for Ruto in his 2022 presidential bid.
Interior CS Fred Matiang'is sudden appointment to perform some duties that fall within the DP’s docket left the latter's confidantes wondering.
One doesn’t need a microscope to see how a good section of the electorate from the North Rift are increasingly becoming worried about the manner in which some leaders from Mount Kenya region have continued with verbal attacks on the DP.
Besides, President Uhuru Kenyatta is yet to publicly declare his support for Ruto in the 2022 race to State House and as things stand, that political equation is hanging.
And so, could the confidence of the North Rift residents in the DP be at stake here? I strongly opine that Ruto has to urgently draft a strategical political matrix that will enable him to fully enjoy maximum confidence from his home turf’s supporters.
Despite him frequently assuring his region that his union with the President is intact, there are some emerging political trends which give his die hard followers in the North Rift sleepless nights.
The eviction of various families from Mau Forest land, some election promises in the North Rift remaining unfulfilled, graft cases surrounding dignitaries who are the DP’s confidantes from the North Rift, negative utterances by some of the Mount Kenya politicians especially Moses Kuria and David Murathe are only but a few of the reasons why the DP has to do something to assure his home turf that all is well.
Another issue likely to be disturbing the DP’s allies is the fact that in Kenya, Vice Presidents seldom ascend to power.
President Daniel Moi and former President Mwai Kibaki are the only Vice Presidents who managed to occupy State House in Kenyan history.
With his excellent oratory skills, ability to convince the electorate colored by full understanding of political trends, Ruto has the uphill task of fully restoring the political confidence in his backyard and assure his people that his unity with President Uhuru is still intact.
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