That has been confirmed from the President’s tour of Nyanza, where residents have come out in large numbers to welcome him.
Unlike in the past when Ruto was booed and his motorcade stoned, we are now seeing him very comfortable in Nyanza.
What I see is that the uncertainty that has been simmering between the President and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua, causing divisions in Mt Kenya, would mean that Mt Kenya is being replaced by Nyanza.
What we are likely to witness in 2027 is an alignment between Ruto and his Rift Valley backyard, and Nyanza as the main voting blocs or basket.
Even if Mt Kenya was to move away from him, he would still maintain a significant basket of votes from Nyanza.
That is basically what it means.
He is looking towards that end knowing very well that Mt Kenya will be up for grabs and he will no longer control the region.
We also recall that the broad-based government has identified the coastal region, especially Mombasa; and Western, specifically Kakamega; and Nyanza as the main areas.
These are the places where the President is targeting to replace Mt Kenya. He did not get many votes in those areas in the last election.
He knows that with the support of Raila, he will easily get these areas. And with Western, Coast and Nyanza, he will be good to go.
If he cracks the Coast, Luo Nyanza, Luhya land and Rift Valley, then I do not think he will feel threatened by Mt Kenya.
Even in Mt Kenya, he still has good loyalists, especially youthful leaders. So, he will still get his chunk of Mt Kenya.
He will not be counting on a bloc coming from Mt Kenya but he will still get some votes from there.
The lawyer and political commentator spoke to the Star
