With Deputy President William Ruto slowly but strategically assembling his political machinery ahead of the 2022 poll, his main target is to raid NASA leader Raila Odinga's support bases, Nyanza not being an exception.
Though Raila still enjoys huge following in his core Nyanza support base, Ruto is keen to change the tide, at least going by his recent political activities where he has been hosting delegations from Nyamira and Kisii counties.
One mistake that could cost the former Premier's votes in the Nyanza region is his silence on whether he will run for State House in 2022.
To some, the silence means that Odinga will not be contesting and have already started shopping for a possible replacement.
In Raila's own Luo Nyanza turf, a number of 2017 poll losers including Agostino Neto and Silvance Osele have declared their their support for the DP. They may not be very influential but at least they enjoy some following.
To further complicate the former Prime Minister's Nyanza math is President Uhuru Kenyatta's recent decision to appoint some poll losers from the region for state jobs. A good number of them are considered ODM rebels. With their newfound fame and financial muscle, will they bankroll Ruto's agenda?Then there is this man: George Ayugi, a vibrant young man who is Ruto's point man in Nyanza. Is it time that Raila should stop him by neutralizing his growing influence on the ground? Going forward, Raila may be forced to make his intentions clear on his next political move lest the self-declared hustler may pull a shocker.