 |
Isaac Rutto and William Ruto share a podium earlier (courtesy) |
Isaac Ruto, a politician well known for his straight forward shooting strategy is not new to the political space. He first joined active politics in 1997 and was overwhelmingly elected as the Chepalungu constituency member of parliament on a KANU ticket. Interestingly enough, his political nemesis William Ruto who is the current deputy president of Kenya was elected as a first time member of parliament in the same year as Rutto.
The Chama Cha Mashinani leader was elected as a first time governor for the county government of Bomet in the 2013 general elections.
ALSO READ: William Ruto unites hustlers in Machakos
However, during his stint as the council of governor's chair, he fell out with the Jubilee administration when he advocated for the "pesa mashinani" initiative which was seeking to allocate more resources and services from the National to the County governments.
Governors had initiated a constitutional amendment to compel the National government to increase the county allocations from the 15% which was in the 2010 constitution to 35-45%. The UhuruRuto government was opposed to the changes which would have meant that a referendum be conducted before the 2017 general elections.
ALSO READ: Is William Ruto supporting BBI?
It is on these fronts that the two (Ruto & Rutto) fell apart prompting the latter to register the Chama Cha Mashinani Party.
Rutto would later lose his gubernatorial seat to the Late Dr. Joyce Laboso. He had joined the NASA coalition as a partner.
For the first time in many days, Isaac Ruto who has been closely working with President Kenyatta's side of government attended a rally organized by Deputy President's supporters in Bomet.
The former governor who has been laying low since his loss, was all smiles and in his usual jovial character when he joined the thousands of residents he was heroically received. They shook hands with the deputy president. He asked the residents to support him and the deputy president in their 2022 political journey.
The deputy president asked the former Bomet governor to put aside his gumboots which are the symbol of his Chama cha Mashinani party for the wheelbarrow which is the symbol for the newly rebranded United Democratic Alliance Party.
REACTIONS FROM KENYANS
The news that Isaac Ruto had joined hands with Ruto earlier today in Bomet caused a stir in the political spheres. Opinion was divided among the internet users with some welcoming the move by the former governor to join hands with the DP.
Isaac Ruto cannot servive WILLIAM RUTO WAVE 2022 in Bomet. He had no option except joining HUSTLER. He can't repeat 2017 mistake again which costed him governor seat. pic.twitter.com/YqDhLTEvBE
— Dan Nyagah (@dan_nyagah) January 15, 2021
Isaac Ruto welcome to Hustler Nation.
— United Democratic Alliance (@UDApartyKe_) January 15, 2021
Come all, let us reason together!
United Democratic Alliance#HustlerNation ~ kazi ni Kazi pic.twitter.com/YBQVEiEg1E
Others were however quick to dismiss the union of the two as inconsequential.
WILLIAM RUTO FACTORIsaac Ruto is attending William Ruto's Political meeting in Bomet today. There are no talks of Isaac Ruto joining William Ruto's bandwagon but Isaac Ruto is widely known by his followers to be a man who welcomes and attends political meetings of rivals without fear. pic.twitter.com/JsTXOi1U7C
— Lord Abraham Mutai (@ItsMutai) January 15, 2021
It is without doubt that the deputy president Dr. William Ruto is the defacto leader of the Kalenjin nation and any leader from the region who wants to survive politically must align their ambitions with that of Ruto whether they like him or not.
Isaac Rutto attempted to defy this wave in 2017 and failed in his bid. He has learnt his mistakes and is trying to rectify it on time before the next election cycle. As a senior politician in the county, the former governor has a chance of being re-elected into the seat in 2022 if he plays his cards rightly.
FROM A VILLAGE HUNTER TO A CEO- NANDI NEWS TV
0 Comments