[Elgeyo Marakwet senator Kipchumba Onesmus (L), Deputy president William Ruto, Uasin Gishu county governor Jackson Mandago and President Uhuru Kenyatta at a past. Photo/the-star]

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Deputy president William Ruto's support in the larger Rift Valley region seems to be falling apart, even as he seeks to be Kenya's president in 2022.Ruto has been enjoying massive support from the North Rift region, an area which he hails from, since 2013. However, things seem to be falling apart for him, after top politicians in the region put him on the spot.Uasin Gishu county governor Jackson Mandago, MPs Oscar Sudi (Kapseret), and Alfred Keter (Nandi Hills) accused Ruto of meddling in the region's politics.Before the Jubilee Party primaries kicked off Friday April 21, 2017, Mandago and Sudi while speaking in Ziwa, warned that some people from Ruto's office were favouring a section of politicians in Uasin Gishu.They accused Ruto's Personal Assistant, Farouk Kibet, and Isaac Maiyo, and warned that he should stop, and let democracy prevail. However, Farouk dismissed the claims, saying he never favoured any politician in the county.This could be a hurdle to Ruto's votes delivery to the Jubilee Party, since president Uhuru Kenyatta expects total compliance from Ruto's side, after he vowed to support his 2022 presidential bid.In 2013, Mandago and his aides gave Ruto and Uhuru unwavering support, given that they were all behind him, following formation of his United Republican Party (URP), before it was merged to Jubilee Party.Alongside the president's Political Advisor Joshua Kuttuny, reports indicate Mandago, Sudi and Keter have formed a political team, that will see them control North Rift region politics.Kuttuny who lost to Wesley Korir in 2013, made a political come back after clinching the Cherangany MP Jubilee ticket, to oust Korir. The athlete vied as an independent candidate in 2013 general elections, sending Kuttuny into cold.The DP also lost his friend Bomet governor Isaac Rutto to the Opposition's Nasa, despite his overwhelming support in 2013. Rutto who formed his new party, CCM, received various aspirants who seek to vie, in the Rift Valley region in August, giving Jubilee's rival, support.If the cracks is anything to go by, Ruto risks losing his grip in the region, costing the Jubilee Party's August 8, re-election bid. The mentioned North Rift politicians have not indicated they have left the Jubilee Party, or withdrawn their support for Ruto.