Ruto reveals claws when pushed into tight corners

Deputy President Dr William Ruto speak at Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Kisumu County during today's Madaraka Day Celebrations.

From the meek newbie in a cream suit who stood by as Uhuru Kenyatta conceded defeat in 2002 to the bullish man who is swimming against the tide in an attempt to become Kenya’s president, William Ruto has come a long way.

For 24 years now, Ruto has dazzled the political scene with twists and turns, starting out in government in 1997, to the Opposition in 2003 and back in government in 2008 to the current position of Deputy President.

Never before has the fight been so personal for Ruto than now.

In all previous contests, he was bidding for others.

In 2002 he was there for Uhuru, in 2007 for Raila Odinga and in 2013 and 2017 for Uhuru again.

At 55 years, Ruto now believes he has come of age.

He has experience, networks and resources and he believes he’s best-placed to succeed the man he has stood out for in three presidential campaigns.

But that is as far as his wishes can take him.

“I said he was a man with the feet of clay. An afternoon shower in Gema would dissolve his muddy feet,” political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi tweeted on February 28.

Ngunyi’s tweet is a representation of the collective will in Uhuru’s circle to block Ruto’s path.

Deputy President Dr. William Ruto in an interview with KTN News on June 25, 2021, at his Karen residence. [Standard]

What began in 2019 with pronouncements by Jubilee vice chair David Murathe mutated into an implosion in the ruling party leading the DP take solace in United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

But Ruto has weathered many a storm. If anything, storms have tended to define his path.

In 2007, riding the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) wave, Ruto delivered the prize for Raila but soon fell out with him.

Initially, Ruto played the diplomat, downplaying the beef between him and the former PM, until he was fired from the Cabinet by Raila on Valentine’s Day of 2010.

He not only came out fighting, but the path he took from that day propelled him into openly opposing the referendum.

He called a press conference at his office to describe the man who appointed him as a liar - one who “lies through his teeth with a straight face.”

He claimed Raila had no integrity worth speaking of.

“The PM orchestrated the censure motion against me. When it failed, he instituted a forensic audit against me,” Ruto claimed.

“Unfortunately, it nailed his office more than me. I want to ask the PM to be man enough to face his opponents, and use better means of engagement than the guerilla tactics and the shadow boxing that he’s currently engaged in.”

Deputy President William Ruto addresses the nation during Mashujaa Day celebration on October 20, 2020, at Gusii stadium. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

Provisional results

When his “No” brigade lost in the 2010 referendum, Ruto took it in his stride, like Uhuru did in 2002.

However, in what has now come to define his brand, Ruto found a way to rain on the victors’ parade, claiming that approximately 45 percent of Kenyans had abstained while 15 percent voted against the Constitution.

“We congratulate all two million-plus Kenyans who gallantly stood for their country and voted No on this referendum despite the intimidation, blackmail and misinformation.

“On basis of the provisional referendum results, we want to say that we respect the verdict of the majority of voters… the majority have had their way, and we have had our say,” he said at a press conference.

In the run-up to the 2013 elections, the International Criminal Court (ICC) tied his fate with that of Uhuru.

In his attempt to extricate himself from ODM, Ruto ran into turbulence with United Democratic Movement (UDM) and eventually founded United Republican Party (URP).

From KANU to ODM to UDM and to URP, Ruto honed his skills in party management and politics. In the run-up to 2017 polls, Ruto then fell to the promise of one huge political party, the Jubilee idea.

Deputy President William Ruto at Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Alongside other party leaders, he agreed to dissolve his URP for Jubilee.

As soon as Uhuru secured his second term, and bolstered by Opposition support, he dropped all pretenses and began to box Ruto right in the face as the DP nursed his wounds in denial.

In those early days, Ruto looked the other way, denying any rift and pointing fingers at a “jealous” Opposition.

“The president spoke very well yesterday, that leadership is not about tribe, clan, family or wealth. We are all equal before God,” Ruto said on August 23, 2019, days after the president reacted to his “dynasty” talk.

While his allies were being pounded in courts, and hounded out of government positions, Ruto looked the other way.

With time running out, however, he began coming out boldly to take on his boss.

Calling him “Mr President, Sir” in public events, but tearing him apart in political rallies, Ruto’s claws began to emerge, indicating his resolve to fight for his space in the run-up to 2022 elections.