It is believed that Deputy President William Ruto in 2007 successfully influenced the Rift Valley region to massively vote for the then ODM party presidential candidate Raila Odinga.
Odinga garnered over 60 per cent of the total votes from this vote-rich region in the election that the majority of Kenyans believed Raila Odinga won.
Ruto was later named by the International Criminal Court (ICC) as one of the suspects behind the post-election violence which was mainly witnessed in parts of Rift Valley.
The two later parted ways politically and their rivalry has been open characterized by exchange of bitter words.
Ruto and Raila have been said to be the frontrunners in the upcoming presidential race and one of them will succeed Uhuru Kenyatta.
Raila has been the only threat to Dp Ruto until Gatundu South legislator Moses Kuria declared his 2022 presidential bid.
Through his United Republican Party (URP) William Ruto delivered Rift Valley’s votes to president Uhuru Kenyatta’s basket both in 2013 and 2017 general elections.
It is through the unwavering support of this region that Uhuru Kenyatta won in 2013 and retained the seat in 2017.
In return, Ruto was promised the endorsement of President Kenyatta and the support of the larger Central region in 2022.
The entry of Moses Kuria into the 2022 race will, therefore, complicate Ruto’s political arithmetic as it means that the GEMA community will shift their support to the candidate from their home region.
President Uhuru Kenyatta also hails from Moses Kuria's constituency and chances are high that Uhuru will endorse Kuria leaving Dp Ruto behind.
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