The President, who is planning a development tour of the region soon, is keen to shore up support in the community that has historically remained loyal to Raila.
It has emerged that Ruto is dangling top state jobs, including the now legalised Chief Administrative Secretary posts, to woo the community into government and deflate Raila.
The Star understands that Ruto will be handing the slots to influential politicians, including those who defected from Raila's camp, as part of his plan to neutralise the opposition.
Those close to the President say he is keen to bring on board experienced politicians from the region to parry away Raila's influence, with eyes fixed on 2027.
Most Kenya Kwanza MPs from the region are largely youthful making it challenging for them to counter Azimio which is largely comprised of seasoned politicians.
With more jobs on the cards, Ruto wants to dangle a number of them to former Raila allies from the region as he mounts an aggressive push to turn the tables on Azimio.
The shortlisting of James Ongwae for the CAS post signals Kenya Kwanza's scheme to bet on the retired Kisii governor to counter Azimio in the region.
Ongwae, who previously worked as Raila's presidential campaign manager, has lately come out to boldly take on the Azimio leader, affirming his resolve to defend the government and the community.
Analysts say Ongwae could be on his way to landing the CAS post as part of Ruto's elaborate strategy to woo the Kisii community.
Ongwae is among three high-flying politicians from the Kisii community listed for interviews. Others are his former deputy Joash Maangi and ex-West Mugirango MP Vincent Kemosi.
Millicent Omanga, who is also a Kisii, unsuccessfully vied for the Nairobi Woman Representative seat and would be regarded as a Nairobian.
The others shortlisted are little-known Reuben Marwanga (Nyamira), Kennedy Momanyi (Kisii) and Annah Omwega (Nyamira).
It is expected that President Ruto will use the allocation of the CAS posts to assuage the Kisii community after it was snubbed in Principal Secretary posts.
Raila has railed against Ruto's administration for downgrading the community with no PS representation in government.
“This government has ignored the Abagusii. For the first time in history there is no PS from here,” Raila said at Keroka Market when he toured the region.
Both Kisii and Nyamira counties, which form the larger Kisii region, were given a single Cabinet Secretary slot - Education CS Ezekiel Machogu-triggering uproar from political leaders.
President Ruto, under pressure from Raila, who has already rolled out aggressive countrywide rallies designed to revolt against the government, is expected to use the CAS posts to neutralise Azimio.
Political analyst and university don Alexander Nyamboga told the Star that the President will settle on politicians with the gravitas to deflate Raila and buttress his foothold in the region.
According to Nyamboga, there is a likelihood that Ruto could pick two CAS officers from each of Nyamira and Kisii counties to quell rebellion and ensure regional balance in the community.
“Most Likely Ongwae will get that position from Kisii county because of his political experience and his history with Raila so as to puncture the opposition leader in the region,” the don said.
“The other slot will go to Maangi because of his close friendship with the President since the 1990s.”
Maangi has been Ruto's longtime friend despite him previously appearing politically indecisive when he hobnobbled with Raila before retreating to Kenya Kwanza months to the last general election.
Nyamboga argued that at worst Nyamira could get one slot with Kemosi guaranteed to add on the appointments made before by Ruto's government.
Kemosi lost in his bid to defend the West Mugirango parlimantary seat on a UDA ticket.
In Nyamira, Ruto recently appointed former Kitutu Masaba MP Walter Nyambati as the chairperson of the Geothermal Development Corporation and Josephine Omanwa-a former UDA woman aspirant- as a member of the Dairy Board of Kenya.
Former Kitutu Masaba MP Shadrack Mose, another UDA bigwig from Nyamira, is on his way to becoming the next Solicitor General to succeed Kennedy Ogeto.
With none jobless among high-profile Ruto campaigners from Nyamira county except Kemosi, the President could reward Kisii county in a bid to dampen Raila's influence.
Ongwae became the pioneer governor of Kisii on the ODM ticket and went on to successfully defend his seat in 2017 on the same party, becoming Raila's key Gusii pillar.
He was among the first governors to congratulate Ruto on his victory and led a team of Kisii and Nyamira politicians to meet the President-elect before his swearing-in.
Ongwae's entry into the Ruto camp has significantly affected Raila's political foothold in Kisii region, according to analysts, tipping Ruto to have a upperhad in the coming months.
“Things are no longer the same. We will only be unfair if we don't admit the fact that Ongwae's absence is deflating Azimio,” Alfred Orina, an ODM youth leader, said.
The retired governor started working in public service as a District Officer before becoming an Immigration officer.
He then rose to become a management analyst and served as director of the Civil Service Reform Programme for years.
He later served as a Permanent Secretary in the Office of the President and as a director of Personnel Management (DPM).
Ongwae also served as secretary at the Teachers Service Commission and PS in the Ministry of Agriculture.
He served in public service, spearheaded various government initiatives served and managed various government committees and policy projects.
While the Abagusii community has previously voted largely for Raila, history records that majority of the leaders from the region usually cross over to the government of the day.
