Retired President Daniel Moi.[Photo/citizentv.co.ke]
Former Bomet governor Isaac Kiprono Ruto is a man not new to controversy in his political career.
Ruto was once locked up in the aftermath of the August 1, 1982 attempted coup during the Moi regime.
His father, Paul Tirop, a pioneer Christian leader in the South Rift region, was detained for nine years for resisting conscription into forced labour in the 1950s.
Ruto's controversy in politics was not only confined within Kenyan borders.
Back in 2001 as a cabinet minister, Ruto found himself in the cold after opposing retired President Daniel Moi while in South Africa.
His actions forced Moi to kick him out of a plane on a runway in Pretoria.
"I had been in Pretoria for two weeks on government business. I heard that he had sacked (then VP George) Saitoti and Kalonzo Musyoka. When he arrived in Pretoria, I asked him: “If you sack these guys, won’t it complicate matters for our Kanu candidate?What if Saitoti runs?" recalls Ruto during an interview with Nation.
Ruto said that he paused the tough question in the presence of the late powerful Cabinet Minister Nicholas Biwott.
"I was in the room with Nicholas Biwott and Moi. A phone rang and I left the room. Later Biwott called me to ask whether I was the leader of Kanu in Kenya and I told him to go to hell. In the evening, I sent my bags to the cargo section but they were returned," said Ruto.
He later revealed how he struggled to raise fare back to Nairobi.
"The next morning, I tried to board the plane on our way to Nairobi but I was denied access. Moi and his delegation flew back. I was left on the tarmac. I was stranded for a few more days before I raised funds for fare back home," he added.
After losing the Bomet gubernatorial race to Joyce Laboso, Ruto is yet to reveal his future politics.
The veteran politician was among the five principals in the National Super Alliance.