For Ruto to succeed, he must navigate many minefields on his path

Deputy President William Ruto addressing residents of Gilgil after presiding over a fundraiser at AIPCA St Joseph, Kikopey, November 7, 2021. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

William Ruto is the isolated political animal that the rest of the pride would like to run off a cliff. For whatever reason, the rest of the political elite club of President Uhuru Kenyatta, Raila Odinga, Musalia Mudavadi, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula has marked him out as a common enemy and an election issue, in next year’s election.

He has been cast in a horrific cask and hoisted for political drubbing at every opportunity. A political address by this class is incomplete if it has not bedraggled him through the worst sewers of politics. How he navigates his way out of this challenge to romp home to victory remains to be seen. The massive numbers he attracts at his political rallies and roadshows are only good when they are converted to bankable votes. To do this, he must overcome several hurdles.   

His biggest setback has been his fallout with his boss, President Uhuru Kenyatta, subsequent to their re-election, the Raila Odinga controversial swearing-in of January 30, 2018, and the March 9 Handshake. He insists that Raila is not just the Jubilee homewrecker, but that he has also a destroyer of the Jubilee development agenda. In this, he also throws brickbats at his boss, whether he intends it that way or not.