The upcoming Kibra constituency by-election provides a perfect opportunity for Deputy President William Ruto to take on the man who mentored him politically, ODM leader Raila Odinga.

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In a contest that is slowly shaping up to be a battle between the country's biggest rivals, political embers are expected to flair even as the DP is keen to use the skills learnt from the ODM chief to beat him.

Kibra is ODM's political boiler room in Nairobi and it is where Raila has built his own illustrious political career. 

As such, the former Prime Minister may be keen to maintain his status as the ' King of Nairobi politics ' by winning the seat that his party has held since 2013. 

But as for Ruto, a win for Jubilee candidate may be a perfect opportunity for him to water down Raila's influence in Nairobi and confirm that the former Lang'ata may not be a big threat to his own State House ambitions in 2022 if he decides to make yet another stab at the Presidency.

Though Dr Ruto was introduced into the political arena by retired President Daniel, he gained his muscle under Raila when they teamed up in the run to the 2007 elections. 

In short, Ruto was indoctrinated from Raila's political bible. And even as the battle for Kibra gains momentum, all eyes will be on the DP if he will outsmart his political teacher in the area he has reigned supreme for close to three decades.

Whatever happens in Kibra remains to be seen. But for Ruto and Raila, the outcome of that by-election may be their make-or-break moments. Will Raila accept to be outplayed in his own turf? Well, time will tell.