Quite a number of political commentators have opined that the 2022 presidential election will be between Deputy President William Ruto and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga.
Although Raila has not publicly declared his interest to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta, observers say it is just a matter of time before the former Prime Minister makes the grand announcement.
However, US-based law scholar Prof Makau Mutua has noted Raila may unknowingly hand Ruto 'keys to the kingdom on a silver platter' by exiting his handshake arrangement with the President.
According to Mutua, Ruto was very eager to see Uhuru fallout with the ODM leader since that would be the end of renewed war on corruption, which he has repeatedly claimed was meant to scuttle his 2022 presidential bid.
"Ruto knows a successful prosecution of the corrupt would leave most of his allies – and perhaps himself – either mortally wounded, or in political Siberia. The man from Eldoret also knows only the “handshake” gave Kenyatta the backbone to dare the corrupt," he wrote in his column published by Sunday Standard.
The SUNY Distinguished Professor at SUNY Buffalo Law School said even though Raila was frustrated by Uhuru's lack of commitment to fighting graft, he should not rush to end their newfound relationship.
"He’s invested too much in the handshake to run for the hills at the first serious signs of his retreating partner. If he does, then he hands Ruto keys to the kingdom on a silver platter," he said.