Garissa political analyst Hillary Obure says the biggest beneficiary of the merger is Ruto and would be Ruto's 2022 strategy.
He says the merger is a way of assuring no fallout during the 2022 general elections, and Ruto will be using this for his own political advantage.
According to Obure, Ruto is sealing all loopholes that may result when the current President Uhuru Kenyatta ends his term, and thinks Ruto needs the Mount Kenya votes more than Uhuru may need Rift Valley votes.
“Ruto will be the biggest beneficiary unlike Uhuru. Ruto risks greater fallout at the end of Uhuru's term and as a result he becomes the biggest beneficiary of the officially launched new Jubilee Party,” says Obure.
He says Ruto may have been the biggest force behind the merger looking past next year's elections.
“It now means Ruto may have been the biggest force behind the formation of the Jubilee Party, which will safeguard his interests. Why should the president push for a merger when he is assured of support?” Posed Osure.