With the race for State House 2022 taking various twists, Deputy President William Ruto, the said Kalenjin kingpin has been receiving a lot of opposition from his backyard raising questions on whether the community should seek him a replacement.
Taking the debate to social media, Kenyans are now wondering whether former Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto is ripe enough to take the mantle.
Rutto rose to fame after he was elected as first Bomet County governor on the URP ticket under Jubilee Coalition in 2013 and later elected the first chairman of the Council of Governors through consensus and vowed to fight for devolution. Later in 2017, he became the leader of the Chama Cha Mashinani(CMM) political party which saw him lose the seat to the late Joyce Laboso.
The debate started after one Kiprono posted on his Twitter page asking if it was time that Isaac Ruto should be crowned the Kalenjin Kingpin as he belongs to the majority Kipsigis of the community.
“Kipsigis people, I know you haven’t forgiven him for joining NASA in 2017. But handshake has happened, its time a Kipsigis become the Kingpin of Kalenjin politics, we Kipsigis form half of Kalenjins and we have been led by Nandis and Tugens for long. Time for Isaac Ruto to lead”.
Kipsigis people, i know you haven't forgiven him for joining NASA in 2017. But handshake has happened, its time a Kipsigis become the Kingpin of Kalenjin politics, we Kipsigis form half of Kalenjins and we have been led by Nandis and Tugens for long. Time for Isaac Ruto to lead. pic.twitter.com/sFqqvZE1ea
— Kiprono (@Onorpik) August 4, 2019
The post saw mixed reactions with the majority insinuating that the CCM leader should get back to the drawing board as he is yet. Another section of Kenyans further slammed the tweep for propagating tribalism.
Here are the reactions;
No forgiveness here!
Isaac Ruto won and we all know it.
My only hope that Kalenjin nation notices such great mind unlike mediocres….— Wasike R (@r_wasike) August 5, 2019
We only regonise William as our top leader; Isaac, Gedion and the rest comes after.
— Kiprono Lenn (@LennKiprono) August 4, 2019
William is the kingpin at the moment BUT as long as Isaac is pulling in the opposite direction, he will keep losing. He is better off behind William. He could take over.
Otherwise, he could soon join the likes of Franklin Bett, Magerer, Sirma, Henry Kosgey, Sally K etc.— Toby Korinko, Esq (@KorinkoToby) August 4, 2019
That position is earned, no one has ever negotiated himself to a kingpin position. And what’s its importance BTW?
— Machiliot (@ColloKoech) August 4, 2019
Hapo ndo ujinga inaanzia.
In kalenjin we don’t spilt into groups such as Nandi,Kipsigis, Pokot,Marakwet, Tugen Sabiny and so forth…. Makibestos pororiosiek ab kalenjin not unless you come from where Isaack Rutto had gone to during last general elections
Watch out my friend— Bethwel Letting (@bethuletts) August 5, 2019
#PunguzaMizigoBill2019 pic.twitter.com/d0rWu3LRkr
— David Gitonga (@GettyGitonga) August 4, 2019
Thought WSR is a kigsigis
— Rambo kanambo (@MburuTm) August 5, 2019
Sober up! We need Kenyan leaders not Kispsigis leaders
— LeoNard Ondigo (@leonard_ondigo) August 4, 2019