Kirinyaga Governor Anne Mumbi's Wednesday remarks on KTN's News Night should come as another eye-opener for Deputy President William Ruto, ahead of the 2022 presidential race.
Speaking to Tony Gachoka, the county boss made it clear that the populous Mt Kenya region could, after all, rally behind former Premier Raila Odinga, Ruto's leading rival and possible competitor in the race.
And though he has been silent on his desire to have the region back him as a thank you token for supporting President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2013 and 2017, it is quite obvious that Ruto is badly in need of the Mt Kenya vote to win.
Therefore, Mumbi's declaration is openly a bigger headache for him, considering that this shows that Raila, who was initially a complete hard-sell in the region, is, after all, making some progress in the region.
It is worth noting that ahead of the 2013 and 2017 polls, not even a single leader from the region would even utter the name of Raila positively, a situation he seems to have reversed over time, which might reflect in his 2022 bid.
At the same time, the remarks come at a time when Raila has been having a close working relationship with President Uhuru Kenyatta, and this could be the pointer of what to expect from the president in 2022.
This is with the consideration that Uhuru has been very silent on his initial vow to support Ruto as his successor, but has on the contrary been praising his union with Raila, proof that Mumbi's utterances could be having a deeper meaning.
While Raila seems to be softening the hearts of superior political players, the likes of Mumbi and Uhuru, Ruto has been walking around with almost irrelevant lawmakers, some of whom are on their first terms.
It will be easier for Raila to get the vote with the support of Mumbi and Uhuru, than Ruto who is coming with a battalion of the likes of Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu) and Rigathi Gachagua (Mathira) who have no meaningful power in the region.
At the same time, apart from Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu who is having questionable integrity, the remaining Central governors have since switched off on the DP, meaning that Raila is better placed.
This, added to the opposition he is being subjected to by the Kieleweke faction of Jubilee Party and the likes of former Jubilee Vice Chair David Murathe is a demonstration that a very tough job awaits him ahead.