Over the recent past, the State House succession race has dominated Kenyan politics.
Deputy President William Ruto was in a pole position to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta but politics, as usual, is unpredictable. Some politicians who had rallied to support Ruto's presidential bid come 2022 took a new tune and are now considered the rebels. It is alleged that they have decamped to support Baringo Senator Gideon Moi.
Is Gideon Moi gaining political base to challenge DP Ruto who has immense political clout in the region?
In Kenyan, the family name plays a huge role in politics. Many politicians have used their famous family names to ascend into power. The Baringo Senator who is the scion of retired President Daniel Moi has been considered to challenge DP Ruto in the presidential race. However, in the Rift Valley region politics, Ruto's name still stands tall as he built his own political career.
The Kalenjin community who controls a large portion of the region are considered compatriots. They respect their leaders and can fully rally behind them in whatever situations. They vote in unison in what is popularly known as 'bloc'. In this scenario, the populous Kalenjin community fully support DP Ruto as he is politically mature and has dominated the national politics, unlike Senator Moi who is a political neophyte.
Although Senator Moi has not publicly declared his interest in the county's top seat, his political ally, Tiaty MP, William Kamket said the KANU party will field a candidate for the seat and that's probably Moi.
"We are working with like-minded parties and come 2022, KANU party will be in the ballot and we will win," stated Kamket in the past.
This did not go well with a majority of Kalenjins who said that the Senator is greedy for power yet they had supported his father for many years he was in power.
"We cannot allow dynasties to rule this country forever, are we the children of lesser gods? Let Gideon support Ruto first and we will support him in the future," remarked Cheruiyot, a businessman in Eldoret town.
William Ruto's support in the Rift Valley is still to be reckoned with as we have seen a majority of MPs allied to him fighting back hard whenever he is abused. This clearly tells that he is a 'political darling'.
The Rift Valley supremacy battles should be something of the past as judging from the residents' statements, DP Ruto has ring-fenced the region's support.
#hivisasaoriginal