Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto share deep political connections.
The two top leaders were once time great political friends and allies. Raila and Ruto’s political relationship blossomed in the run-up to the 2007 general election.
Before the election, Raila and Ruto alongside other top leaders mounted strong campaigns against the proposed constitution by then in a referendum.
The two leaders were in the ‘No’ camp represented by an Orange while the then president Mwai Kibaki supporting the proposed constitution was in the ‘Yes’ camp represented by a Banana.
Raila and Ruto led the campaigns that saw Kenyans rejected the 2005 proposed constitution in a referendum.
The win in the referendum gave birth to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) as campaigns intensified to dislodge retried president Mwai Kibaki from power in the 2007 general election.
Again Ruto was Raila’s key point man as the campaign for the 2007 polls geared up and guaranteed Raila of Rift Valley votes.
Top politicians in Raila and Ruto’s camp included Kitui governor charity Ngilu, Tourism CS Najib Balala and among others.
Opinion polls indicated that Raila was the favorite to win the 2007 polls as election day neared.
However, the election was disputed as both Kibaki and Raila claimed victory. The dispute led to the post-election chaos experienced in some parts of the country.
At least 300 people died, property destroyed and communities displaced. In February 2008, Raila and Kibaki agreed to a power-sharing deal with the ODM leader taking up the Prime Minister position as the two called for peace.
Ruto’s allies have often argued that he helped Raila to get the premier position.
In the coalition government, Ruto (now Deputy President) was appointed Agriculture Minister.
However, Ruto fell out with Raila after he was sacked as Agriculture Minister in 2011 over alleged Sh2 Billion maize scandal.
The sacking saw the Raila- Ruto once blossomed political friendship abruptly end.
The Former turbo MP then vowed to teach Raila a bitter political lesson.
In the 2013 polls, Ruto teamed up with Uhuru Kenyatta (now president) to defeat Raila.
The two won the election despite the crime against humanity charges that were facing them at International Criminal Court.
They were cleared of the charges.
Raila-Ruto relationship has since remained frosty even as a section of DP Ruto’s allies pile pressure on Raila to back the former Turbo MP’s 2022 presidential bid.
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