With his strategists having zoned Nairobi, the country's capital as tossup region, Deputy President William Ruto is slowly making entry to city politics.
For years now, ODM leader Raila Odinga has controlled the country's capital, beating his competitors for the last decade in presidential polls, often making it difficult for government to tame him.
Already, Dr Ruto has identified Mr Odinga as his main competitor in 2022 polls, thus his recent activities to battle out for the control of the city for strategic reasons.
“We are well aware that our main opponent will be Mr Odinga. We are also aware that the DP remains in firm control of Rift Valley and Central, and we do not want to lose a single vote from there,” Dr Boni Khalwale said.
In the past one month, Dr Ruto has visited a couple of constituencies within the city, often pulling roadside crowds, an indication of looming battle with Mr Odinga.
Over the weekend, Ruto visited Embakasi North in Dandora. On Monday, he was at Kayole in Embakasi Central before touring Dagoretti South.
To send a message for his anticipated battle with Raila, Dr Ruto is said to have pushed former footballer McDonald Mariga to run for Kibra by-election slated for November this year.
“Kibra has significance to us. Firstly, a win for us will demonstrate that Jubilee, on whose ticket DP will run, is the party of the future.
"Also, capturing Kibra, which is in the capital city and held by our opponents, would be a good sign of bigger things to come,” Belgut MP Nelson Koech, his ally said.
Already, Mr Odinga is not leaving anything to change. Aware of a looming battle, he is monitoring Kibra by-election closely. He appointed Makadara MP George Aladwa to be in charge.
With Kenya's politics being tribal, Ruto has only Nixon Korir of Lang'ata as his tribesman in the city politics, a constituency he won due to ODM' shambolic nominations.