Deputy President William Ruto is forestalling damaging push and pull in his UDA and consolidating support by practising a form of negotiated democracy.
He is also a master of bringing together political adversaries in some counties, avoiding fallings out and defections.
Ruto has been building alliances with parties ahead of the August poll and is keen not to drop any member as they are all crucial to his presidential bid.
Gubernatorial aspirants, incumbents and newcomers, wield massive support in their regions. Therefore, the DP is putting up a spirited effort by engaging those considered to be weak, persuading them to drop out in negotiated democracy.
He has promised nomination losers jobs in his administration if he, UDA and Kenya Kwanza win.
In Narok for example, Woman Representative Soipan Tuiya and Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo both wanted to be governor. Ruto persuaded them to set aside their ambitions and instead back former Labour CAS Patrick Ntutu.
Ntutu will face Narok North MP Moitalel Ole Kenta who is being fronted by the Azimio La Umoja Movement.
Ruto has already settled on incumbent Governor Samuel Tunai for the Senate seat, saying he is trying to unite all communities in the county.
“Our team for Narok is now complete and we are ready for the next general election," Ruto said in a meeting with Narok leaders.
"Our focus now is to have Narok attain 85 per cent in the Kenya Kwanza team. Our UDA party and I have trust in our team and believe that with their experience they will deliver."
In the race for the Kakamega governor, former Senator Boni Khalwale has backed down and supported his main rival, Senator Cleophas Malala, for the top seat. Khalwale will run for Senate.
“We salute him Khalwale for standing tall to graciously cede ground for Malala," the DP said.
"We pledge to work with him, using his political networks, to drive our campaigns. This spirit of consensus shows the Kenya Kwanza team is what our country urgently requires," Ruto said last week when he brought the two rivals together at his Karen office.
Other counties where Ruto is making inroads to counter the wave from his opponents is Wajir. There he has lined up a team led by Ahmed Mukhtar for governor, Shallow Abdula for Senate and Nasri Sahal for woman representative.
In Tana River and Trans Nzoia counties, Ruto is in talks with leaders to pick a formidable team. He calls his approach win-win.
In his backyard, however, aspirants who are his strong allies have remained focused on their campaigns, their eyes on the prize, which is the nomination ticket.
Ruto is well aware that any blunder, attempt at negotiated democracy or endorsement for any seat will cost him dearly.
That's why he is letting the electorate decide in primaries.
Political analyst Kiprotich Samoei said the DP's supporters in his Rift backyard are expecting noting short of exercising their rights through the ballot without undue influence from any quarter.
“Ruto knows very well any attempt to force his preferred candidate on the people will cause irreparable damage. That includes his supporters shifting base to Azimio la Umoja," he told the Star in an interview.
"Supporters of a particular aspirant may feel shortchanged. They tend to think their person has been bought off since they have placed their interests in that person. And so they will be forced to split the vote and support a rival."
Samoei said while negotiated democracy is working smart for him quite a few cases, Ruto must be careful so votes are not split and supporters don't switch their allegiance.
A case in point is Bomet where three of his lieutenants are squaring off for the governor's seat. Supporters of the candidates are spoiling for a major battle.
Two of them — Governor Hillary Barchok and former Petroleum and Mining CAS John Mosonik — will face off in nominations to decide the UDA ticket on April 14. The winner will face CCM party leader Isaac Rutto from Azimio in the August poll.
“Barchok and Mosonik have their supporters and if by any chance a candidate is favoured in the nomination, the supporters of the other who has been rigged out will be left with no choice.
"They will have to support Rutto and his CCM party and this would be a great blow to UDA in the county," Samoei said.
In a past interview, Mosonik said no one has been endorsed for the seat and he does not expect it to happen, asking residents not to be duped by his competitors.
"We are going to compete on level playing field. There is no preferred candidate for the seat, so ignore those moving around stating otherwise," he said.
As for Kericho, former Energy CS Charles Keter seems to be facing a threat to his long political career from aspirants led by Eric Mutai, Fred Kirui and Lily Ng’ok.
Ruto has no choice but to keep off.
Still, some Rift aspirants are boasting of being the DP's favourites. But no one appears willing to interfere, compared with the previous election.
After all, Ruto has already assured jobs for those who lose nominations, if Kenya Kwanza forms the next government. He will ask them to accept defeat and support the victors for everyone's benefit.
In 2017, Ruto endorsed Joyce Laboso (now deceased) for Bomet governor, instead of incumbent Governor Rutto, while in Uasin Gishu Jackson Mandago was his man for governor and he won.
Rutto's CCM is in Kenya Kwanza.
The DP's favourite for the Baringo Senate seat, Simeon Chelugui, however, lost to Kanu boss Gideon Moi, the incumbent.
But now the Deputy President can't afford to play favourites on home turf.
(Edited by V. Graham)
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