Several politicians from the Mount Kenya region have been on record making controversial statements that DP William Ruto will never be awarded a direct ticket come the 2022 presidential campaigns.
What now remains is to watch and see if the region will make their threats forth.
Statehouse has, however, moved to discard the allegations made by Kiambu governor, William Kabogo and other Central politicians stating that President Uhuru Kenyatta has assured Ruto of his succession politics.
If the region sticks to what Kabogo recently issued, then the person with a good chance to hold Ruto's running mate position will be Garissa Township MP, Aden Duale.
Being one of the principal founders of United Republican Party, Duale is on record stating that he would stand by Ruto even at gun point. Also, during the DP's frequent visits to the ICC, the Majority leader has stood by him, severally accompanying Ruto to console and encourage him that all was well.
Back to their days in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) the duo enjoyed a blossoming political relationship endowed with very similar ideologies. And as witnessed in the present Kenyan political arena, what Ruto says goes unquestioned for Duale, hinting that the duo may be headed for something bigger in their political careers.
But as it is said, there are no permanent enemies or friends in politics. Time will tell if the duo will live to realise the dream.