Ruto rebels walking tight political tightrope

They only have two options left — face the Damascus moment and play allegiance to Ruto or forever remain rebels.

For these rebels, most of them who were buoyant of winning, the August 9 general election proved otherwise, ostensibly drawing a red line and boundary between them and Ruto. They are now paying heavy prices for opposing him in his backyard. 

Ruto became the de-factor leader of the Kalenjin community after the death of former President Daniel Moi, and the fall of his critics in this election points to that direction.

Among the politicians whose political careers were cut short for going against the grain are outgoing Elgeiyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos, MPs Alfred Keter (Nandi hills) and Joshua Kutuny (Cherangany).

CCM party leader Isaac Rutto, although backing Ruto for the presidency, went against UDA's candidate and incumbent Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok and failed to recapture the seat he lost in 2017.

Tolgos failed to unseat Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, Ruto's key ally, who was defending the Senate seat.

Some of the critics, despite, associating themselves with Ruto towards the end of their terms — mainly for survival — were still voted out as their loyalty was questioned.

Tolgos, who was the region’s Azimio la Umoja point man, had said Ruto and Raila would share the region’s spoils, adding that the Rift Valley was not the DP's zone as had been made to look like.

“We have laid out strategies to ensure Raila gets over 40 per cent of the votes cast in the region and ensure a resounding victory for the coalition,” Tolgos said in his campaigns.

In the election, however, Tolgos lost in the Senate race and also failed to deliver votes to Raila Odinga.

In his county alone, while Ruto scooped 96 per cent, Raila had a meager two per cent of the votes cast as per the IEBC statistics.

Other casualties are Kanu secretary general Nick Salat, who sought  who he Bomet east parliamentary seat unsuccessfully, and his party boss and Baringo Senator Gideon Moi.

Salat was beaten by Richard Yegon of UDA, while Gideon lost the Senate seat to William Cheptumo of UDA, who had once rebelled against Ruto.

Ruto effectively lobbied Baringo residents to drop Gideon and elect UDA's Cheptumo as his replacement.

“Gideon aende nyumbani na hiyo Azimio [Gideon should go home with Azimio]...Why is Gideon, who is my brother, the one who wants to cut my legs and support another candidate?” Ruto posed in Baringo as he campaigned for UDA candidates.

"If we would not have supported his father, would he have really become the president of this country?” Ruto asked supporters amidst cheers.

In 2017, Ruto unsuccessfully fielded Simon Chelugui, now labour Cabinet Secretary, to topple Gideon.

This is attributed to the clout President Moi, who was then the region’s kingpin, wielded.

Others who were consumed by the "yellow fever"  in this election are Silas Tiren (Moiben), Mishra Kiprop (Kesses) and William Chepkut (Ainabkoi).

The wave  was also in the Mt Kenya wave, where Ruto also garnered the majority votes, further pointing to his political influence in the region and in national politics.

In the run-up to the elections, formed his political nest, the United Democratic Alliance party, after the divide and sidelining in the Jubilee Party.

The then new and small but now popular and big party has produced the most elected leaders not only from the region but across the country.

Political analysts opine that for the rebels to redeem their images and have their political lives saved they must come back to the fold.

According to political analyst Godfrey Sang, Ruto is going to dominate the political scene for the next decades to come and it is only prudent for the renegades to mend fences with him.

“Being powerful, he is not going to allow anyone to go against him...the team of leaders opposed to his leadership are not capable of forming a parallel centre of power to challenge him,” Sang said.

He cited the case of outgoing Tiaty MP William Kamket, who has agreed to support Ruto having being defeated, as survival tactic.

“William Ruto is my friend, being a Kalenjin like me; I will not join a team of people who want to see my brother down. We may differ on other things but I must protect his success with all my body organs,” Kamket said.

He said he did not do so for any favors from his government but because he won fairly.

“A man who doesn't want to see your brother succeeding will also be jealous of your success when you succeed. Bwana rais, twanga kazi ndugu. I am a phone call away, reach me whenever you need me. I am ready to work with you,” he added.

Sang says Gideon must also make a decision to support Ruto, not because he likes him but to save his image and political clout in the region.

He argued that when former President Moi took to power, most of his friends-turned-foes suffered politically after they refused to be penitent, something that sent them into political oblivion.

The class of Taita Towett, William Murgor, Henry Cheboiwo and former Nandi North MP which is the present day Tinderet Jean Marie Seroney and former minister Paul Sang.

A perfect case of a dissident-cum-loyalist, he said, is former Eldama Ravine MP Musa Sirma, who bounced back to Parliament after 15 years in the cold.

“The only option he had was to associate himself with Ruto and UDA party, otherwise he would not have won again. He would have remained in the cold and the ambition to be in Parliament becoming a dream,” Sang said.

Rutto, who has had an on and off relations with Ruto, recently conceded defeat saying he is not a man known for disputing elections.

“My political record speaks for itself: That I am not that kind of a person who disputes election results and interferes with the term of elected leaders. I respect the will of the people,” Rutto said after meeting Bomet Governor-elect Hillary Barchok.

In the lead up to the dissolution of URP and TNA parties to form the Jubilee Party behemoth in 2017, Rutto bolted out to form CCM and joined hands with the then opposition leaders in the NASA coalition.

He used the party to defend his gubernatorial seat in 2017 but lost to Joyce Laboso (now deceased) of the Jubilee Party.

After five years in the cold, Rutto endorsed Ruto for the presidency but maintained he would recapture the seat on CCM party.

But when Ruto made his last campaign tour at Kapkatet grounds in Kericho, he drummed up support for UDA candidates to the chagrin of Rutto.

He implored the voters to elect his foot soldiers on a "suit pattern", saying he needed to tighten his party and also have his agenda succeed in Parliament.

“I have built a party and it has been received well across the country...Do you want it to die at home? I am begging you to vote for UDA so that it remains strong for me to rule the whole country,” he said at the Kapkatet rally.

Bomet East MP-elect Richard Yegon said there is no room for individuals who want to fragment the Kalenjin community into sub-tribes.

Yegon said there can never be two centres of power in the Rift Valley and that Kalenjins must remain united the way they were during the Moi’s reign.

“The Kalenjin nation will continue to remain as one and being aware that Ruto is the region’s kingpin, it is only fair for those who have been against him to join the team for our unity,” he said.

He expressed optimism that all the perceived rebels will return and support Ruto.

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