The battle for political supremacy in the Rift Valley region between Baringo Senator Gideon Moi and Deputy President William Ruto is at the climax.
Exchange of bitter words between DP Ruto’s and Gideon's allies has been the common weapon and Gideon's presidential candidacy is causing a lot of discomfort within Ruto’s political circle.
During 2017 general elections, it is believed that Ruto fielded the now Water Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui against Senator Moi. When Moi retained his seat, Ruto pushed successfully for Chelugui's appointment to the Cabinet.
The political rivalry between the two politicians who hail from Rift Valley started in 2006 and has been intensified by these three major events;
Kericho Senate by-election
It was a hotly contested by-election which also acted as a ‘litmus test’ for DP Ruto’s supremacy in the region. Ruto put up a high profile campaign to beat the Kanu team which was led by Baringo Senator Gideon Moi and Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto and rode on a wave of dissatisfaction in South Rift. Jubilee’s party candidate Aaron Cheruiyot garnered 109,358 votes, beating his closest competitor, Kanu’s Paul Sang, who scored 56,307.
Mark Too funeral
The funeral was attended by leaders from different parts of the country who came to pay their last tributes to the former MP led by President Uhuru Kenyatta. William Ruto and Gideon Moi took the opportunity to openly attack each other and the clash appeared to be a battle before the intervention of President Kenyatta.
The botched Kabarak handshake
Ruto's visit to former president at his home in Kabarak elicited mixed reactions in the country after he failed to meet Mzee Moi. Ruto’s allies and supporters claimed that Senator Moi had blocked DP Ruto from meeting his father although it is not clear whether the DP had an appointment or not and the visit has intensified the rivalry between the two politicians.