Until recently I was very sure that WSR will get 100% support from Mt Kenya, especially the Central region. It was also a sure bet that he will be the 5th PORK but odds have quickly changed against him. Ruto delivered well on his promise to Uhuru in both 2013 and 2017. He has always humbled himself behind President. This is good for a deputy who is keen to succeed his master. Actually that is what made Moi president. Winning people’s trust is a virtue that can propel you to greater heights and WSR had completely won the trust of kiuks. They had momentarily forgotten what happened in 2007 and were ready to make this former archenemy their king. However, things have taken an awkward twist. Kiuks have suddenly developed cold feet towards Ruto. Although it was probably expected to happen at some point, Ruto himself has partly fueled it. This among other mistakes might cost him the big job!
Being the smart politician he is, DP WSR could not bank all his hopes with the Mt Kenya guys. Akaanza kujipanga before 2017 general election. One strategy was undercutting all political bigwigs from the mountain: Kenneth, Karua, Munya and now Mutua. His problem is that he overdid the whole thing. He did it openly and supported wrong guys. Anyone with half a brain could clearly figure out where the venom that Sonko was spewing to Kenneth and the Mt kenya mafia was coming from. As Martha Karua once said, ‘Ukiona mbwa anabweka, tafuta mwenyewe’. He was openly fighting the same guys he expected support from which was probably a miscalculation. The trust started evaporating gradually. Remember, this is a block expected to be 5 million votes by 2022. Many Kiuks, and some Nairobians, will never forgive him for that especially now that Sonko has proved to be overly incompetent and lacking in very basic leadership skills.
Just when everything seemed to be settling down, the ugly pendulum of corruption and nepotism in parastatals controlled by Ruto’s ‘wing’ of government comes into full swing. Whether it is true or not, everyone is talking about it: NYS, NCPB, KPC, Mercury sugar etc. How does he approach it-by sending guys who speak in a manner to openly show that the DP is guilty. Again, DP WSR overdid it! The Kenyatta’s, the Moi’s and the Odinga’s have been accused of mega corruption scandals and nepotism. However, they were a bit careful and again that was then. Kenya is different today. People are more keen and they are asking themselves so many questions. Most communities are jittery when it comes to supporting Ruto in 2022. It might be a scenario of Kiuks and kales only against 40, i.e. if kiuks fully support Ruto.
Can these, among other, mistakes be corrected? Yes they can but as things stand now DP WSR will be a very hard sell in 2022 if he doesn’t take corrective measures. My take!