A Kisii don believes that Rift Valley rebel leaders who have been giving Deputy Presdient William Ruto headache should now withdraw their dissent and join him or risk losing their seats in 2017.
Ruto’s battle with International Criminal Court over alleged crimes against humanity ended on Tuesday when the court ruled in his favor.
But Professor Nyanchieo Bogonko on Thursday during a phone interview with us said the ruling was ‘detrimental’ to the rebels arguing that it strengthened the DP’s grip in the vote-rich Rift Valley.
“The ICC ruling has strengthened the DP’s grip in Rift Valley. There was anxiety over the political future of the region if the case proceeded further," said Bogonko.
"Residents were keen to determine their political future in case his ordeal persisted,” said the Kisii University Don.
“Rift Valley rebels must now look for a way to reconcile with him or lose political seats in 2017. He remains a defacto leader in the Rift Valley and no one will dispute that,” he added.
He said Ruto will have ‘humble’ time to narrate his ordeal to his people and get sympathy support in swing regions which had been penetrated by the rebels.
“He was serving many masters but now he will have time to be with his people and share with them his ordeals with ICC," said Bogonko.
"He is likely to get sympathy support from swing regions like South Rift where he faced a storm during the Kericho Senatorial elections,” added the political scientist.
He also said Ruto remains a favorite among the Kalenjin community despite his struggles throughout his life.
“He is a self-made politicians and his life story still makes his people admire him," said Bogonko.
"As long as Gideon Moi leads a mutiny against him, he is likely to continue dictating Rift Valley politics now that he is off the hook,” he said.
Ruto has been at loggerheads over Rift Valley supremacy with Baringo Senator Gideon Moi and Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto.