Deputy President William Ruto, who has hinted at vying for the presidency in 2022, as it is now, has kicked off early campaigns as he seeks to replace President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House.
The DP was on Friday in Western where he toured Kakamega and Bungoma launching development projects and donating school buses to institutions in the vote rich region.
However, while addressing a roadside rally at Musanda in Kakamega, teh DP made a statement that seemed not to go down well with residents of the county.
The DP 'attacked' opposition chief Raila Odinga accusing Kakamega residents of asking for development projects from him but when it comes to election time, they vote for other leaders.
"When you want roads, you look for Ruto, but when it comes to election time, you say Tibim," said Ruto.
'Tibim' is a term that was widely used by Raila and other leaders in the National Super Alliance fraternity during campaigns for the August 8 general polls.
Raila is still a darling of many voters in the region- going by the voting statistics of the August 8 general poll.
His constant attacks on the former prime minister may end up pushing Raila's support from the region away from him (Ruto) and may prove difficult for the former Eldoret North MP to get votes there.
Western largely votted for Raila on August 8 and the region also wholly boycotted the October 26 repeat poll that Raila did not take part in.