Baringo Senator Gideon Moi welcomes Ugandan President at JKIA on Monday evening ahead of President Uhuru's swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday. [Photo|kenya-today.com]
Despite the role played by Gideon Moi in welcoming dignitaries attending President Uhuru Kenyatta’s inauguration raising eyebrows, that may not help Gideon gain political mileage over Deputy President William Ruto.
Political analyst Wesley Simba has said that welcoming guests may be a powerful gesture, but not powerful enough to put Moi in the top of the list of the ‘heir to the throne’.
"Ruto has gained massive power in the Rift Valley and Gideon will find it difficult to wrestle the region from him. Ruto has proved to be the kingpin of Rift Valley politics. All presidents in the republic have had unwavering support in their backyards," Simba told the Star on Tuesday.
He added, however, that the supremacy battle between the two is not over yet.
"The battle for supremacy in the Rift Valley is far from over. We expect to see it as soon as the President assumes office. The two faces to watch will be Ruto and Gideon," he added.
Ahead of the August 8 polls, speculations were high that Moi and Independence party Kanu was in talks to work with NASA.
A deal struck by Uhuru and top Kanu leaders, in consultation with former President Moi, however, saw a shift with Gideon backing Uhuru’s reelection.
In the deal, Kanu would get appointments to the Cabinet. It was also to get a number of lucrative parastatal appointments and plum diplomatic slots.
Before the deal, Ruto and Gideon had engaged in an open supremacy battle over control of the populous Rift Valley with Gideon declining to dissolve Kanu late last year when Jubilee affiliates merged into one party.