The destiny of a man is not paved without obstacles. Such is the fate of Deputy President William Ruto when it comes to his quest to become the next president.
In the last general elections, DP Ruto faced an ultimate test in his journey to the house on the hill, where his staunchest critics were standing to be elected in their respective areas.
It is in public domain that Peter Kenneth, a 2013 presidential candidate, was being groomed by the Mt Kenya elites to take over the mantle from Uhuru Kenyatta once his tenure in office comes to an end.
The immediate former Kiambu governor William Kabogo is known not to mince his words when it comes to Ruto and his presidential hopes. He has been heard saying that Mt Kenya will not offer support to his namesake from Sugoi.
In Bomet, DP Ruto faced rebellion from the indefatigable champion of 'pesa mashinani', Isaac Rutto. The former governor went ahead and even formed a party by the same name Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM).
But in a swift turn of fate, all these three leaders were ousted resoundingly from office. Mike Sonko beat Peter Kenneth in the Jubilee party primaries and later overcame a stiff challenge from incumbent Evans Kidero to become the governor of Nairobi.
William Kabogo was thoroughly whipped by Ferdinand Waititu in the primaries, which was a foregone conclusion since Kiambu is a Jubilee zone. Kabogo’s attempts to bounce back as an independent candidate bore no fruits.
The first council of governors chairman whose brush style left him at loggerheads with the national government was beaten by Joyce Laboso to become the first of the three female governors in the country.
In the three leaders, DP Ruto seemed to have pulled a masterstroke, ridding of leaders who would be a perceived threat to his presidential ambitions.
He silenced opposition in Rift Valley, not only in Isaac Rutto but also in simmering opposition in his backyard in Alfred Keter and Oscar Sudi. The two were beginning to overly ambitious.
The talks of Mt. Kenya grooming Peter Kenneth disappeared in thin air, like morning dew after the sun rises. Kabogo is still not in good books with the self-declared hustler.
As the de facto presidential candidate for the Jubilee party, Ruto does not have much opposition from elected leaders, except the talks about Mt. Kenya support.
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