Deputy President William Ruto remains the biggest political figure in the Kalenjin-occupied part of the Rift Valley province, a region he has enjoyed absolute support from since 2007 when he led the community in supporting opposition leader Raila Odinga's presidential bid.
He has over time bettered and strengthened himself in line with his presidential dream, with his political activities rendering some of his former allies victims, the biggest one being opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Ruto has for two consecutive election seasons now ensured that Odinga remains in the cold, a trend that started when he joined hands with President Uhuru Kenyatta just before the 2013 general polls, before going ahead to win the presidential race.
He has since transformed himself into the former Prime MInister's worst political enemy and fiercest critic, with Odinga losing to his unity with Kenyatta each time they face off.
This has, as a result, left the aging Odinga still dreaming of realizing his presidential dream, with Ruto already being in the process of laying out foundations to embarrass the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader one more time by ascending to the post in 2022.
Former Bomet Governor Isaac Rutto is also on the list of politicians who have lost relevance after an encounter with the DP.
Rutto, just before the concluded polls, decided to part ways with Ruto to popularize his Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM) bloc, worsening the situation by engaging the Deputy President in a supremacy battle in the rift, one that saw him not only defeated in the battle for Bomet but also rendered silent and embarrassed by Lonah Laboso who had Ruto's blessings.
His move to support opposition's National Super Alliance (NASA) presidential candidate for the race Raila Odinga, and inclusion as the NASA fifth principal worsened his downfall, forcing him to regroup with the Jubilee side for the October 26 presidential re-run.
Ruto remains a force to reckon with in not only the Rift Valley region but the entire nation.
He has demonstrated his power, strength, and willingness to crush anyone who stands between him and his ambitions and is not ready to entertain anyone attempting to loosen his grip on the rift.