Deputy President William Ruto has been dealt a major blow after the death of Bomet Governor Joyce Laboso.
Laboso used to be DP Ruto's key strategist in the South Rift. Her death has wounded Ruto politically ahead of the 2022 General Elections.
Having Laboso in Bomet was a huge win for Ruto as the area is the home of the Kipsigis, who are the Kalenjin’s biggest sub-tribe.
However, with a divided Rift Valley, Ruto must move fast to look for someone else to fill Laboso's gap in Bomet.
Unfortunately, DP Ruto's political rivalry Chama Cha Mashinani leader Isaac Ruto is in Bomet. Recently, he welcomed former Uasin Gishu gubernatorial contender Bundotich Zedekiah Kiprop, alias Buzeki into his camp.
With Isaac Ruto and Gideon Moi both from Rift Valley against Ruto, his control in this region received a major hit following Laboso's death.
Laboso died on Monday at the Nairobi Hospital where she was receiving treatment.
Ruto came out to mourn her as a true leader.
"Joyce Laboso exemplified the strength of a woman: gentle yet firm, intense, hardworking, resilient and pragmatic. She was an iconic leader, who focused and delivered on her constituents' interests," he said in one of the tweets.