William Ruto is a man on a mission. The mission is straightforward; occupy presidency after the 2022 general elections.
And he has engaged his campaign gear, the campaign car is moving so fast that it would be hard to catcg gun even if you broke all the Michuki rules. In fact, if the race was for state house is 10 kilometers, then Ruto has completed eight kilometers before the others think about wearing their socks.
With his Tanga Tanga team, Ruto has made whistle stops across the country, looking to expand his base ahead of the general elections. This month, he toured Luo Nyanza for the first time since becoming dp.
Ruto took advantage of the backlash that Migori governor Okoth Obado is facing from ODM Party to tour Homa Bay and Migori Counties, where he launched his trademark projects.
With this, it would be easy to think the race is done and dusted. In fact some newspaper recently said that 2022 is a one horse race.
But wait, politics just like betting odds, can change in seconds. A red card or an injury to a key player may swing the game in favor of the opposing team.
Ruto has done everything humanely and spiritually (Read the church fund-raisers) to ensure he ascends to Statehouse. It could be he has forgotten one key element, his Rift Valley backyard.
In the thrilling record breaking TV Series Game of Thrones, Robb Stark, who was declared King in the North asks himself, ‘What kind of a king would I be, if I can’t protect my own home?’
This was after his best friend, Theon Greyjoy had betrayed him and captured Winterfell, the ancestral home of the should be king.
And so we ask ourselves, what kind of president will Ruto be, if he can’t protect his own people?
Poor tea and milk prices, decrepit road infrastructure, perceived skewed appointment to top government jobs, and lack of political unity are some of the issues playing against the DP in his backyard.
Furthermore, Mr Ruto has not addressed the highly emotive issue of the eviction of more than 9,000 families settled along the Maasai Mau Forest, with another 40,000 families lined up for eviction in the second phase of the exercise.
The most thorny issue, however is the never ending maize saga. Some of these reasons, have led to the rise of some brave MPs who are now challenging his suitability for presidency.