Ruto and Raila rely on backyards to get head start in bruising battle

DP William Ruto and Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate Raila Odinga. [File, Standard]

When the starter is fired on August 9, Deputy President William Ruto will have begun his sprint to State House with slight edge over his main rival Mr Raila Odinga.

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) flag bearer will take off the starting block with an almost guaranteed 2,432,441votes from his Rift Valley backyard, giving him a slight advantage over his rival Mr Odinga, whose Nyanza turf has 2,160,439 votes.