Deputy President William Ruto is very determined in becoming Kenya's 5th President, political analyst Prof Edward Kisiang'ani has observed.
Of all aspirants seeking to take over power from President Uhuru Kenyatta, Kisiang'ani has noted, it was only Ruto who has proved he has what it takes to clinch the country's most powerful seat in the 2022 general election.
"There seems to be only one person in Kenya today who shows relentless desire and unmatched zeal to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta as Kenya's next CEO. This person is DP William Ruto. The rest are engaged in frivolous political games dominated by insults, malice and paranoia," the University Don tweeted on Tuesday.
Ruto is among the leading politicians who have already declared their interest in the presidency and has been crisscrossing the country seeking support for his bid.
He is expected to face off with ODM leader Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Musalia Mudavadi (ANC), Gideon Moi (KANU), Moses Wetang'ula (Ford-Kenya), Alfred Mutua (MCC), Kivutha Kibwana (Muungano) among others.
However, according to his close ally former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, Raila will be the main rival and that is why Ruto's camp was working on a strategy to lock his key traditional support bases.
“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,” Khalwale said as quoted by Sunday Nation.
Belgut MP Nelson Koech said Ruto was ready for the 2022 contest, noting he will use the upcoming Kibra parliamentary by-election to test his political muscle against Raila who has been in the race to the State House four times.
“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,” Koech said.