Deputy President William Ruto no longer commands respect and support in the Rift Valley, Baringo Senator Gideon Moi has said.
Moi says Kalenjins don’t trust the DP, because he is arrogant.
"If the President (Uhuru Kenyatta) wants votes from this region, he should come to the people directly himself," he said in an interview with the Star.
The Senator has been engaging Ruto in supremacy battle in the Rift, which has for a long time been the DP’s strong support base.
Moi has, however, said that his political differences with Ruto are not personal, but emanate from unfulfilled development promises.
Speaking at Bartolimo in Baringo County, Moi said DP Ruto has been using his visits in Baringo, Nandi, Kericho and other parts of the region to tarnish his name to get sympathy votes.
He said that Uhuru should be worried, following the mentioning of Ruto's aide - Farouk Kibet - and his close ally - Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen - in the Sh1.6 billion NYS scandal.
Last week, local Nandi County leaders snubbed a meeting that was graced by Ruto. They accused him of disrespecting other Rift Valley leaders.
Five MPs skipped the interdenominational fund- raiser for churches at Kurgung High School in Mosop constituency.
Area MP Stephen Bitok is the only local leader who received the DP upon arrival.
"What Ruto is doing is unacceptable and we will not allow that to continue. We are telling the President to take note that his deputy is fast losing his popularity and will not be able to marshal the votes he did in the last election," Kanu Secretary General Nick Salat said on Thursday.