Faced by political uncertainty, fluidly, stormy political marriages and the emergence of Gen Zee socio-economic and political revolution, President William Ruto has been thrown back to the drawing board.
President Ruto has now to contend with harsh reality of the 2027 Presidential election which is fast turning into a nightmare.
Subsequently, President Ruto has been forced to cobble up new alliances to avoid any slip and to firmly hold on to his presidency.
And President Ruto is currently turning to his political ally turned nemesis, ODM leader Raila Amolo Odinga and the Luo community to survive the stormy political moment.
President Ruto will be counting on the 2007 Arap Mibey mantra that broke the age long political shackles between the Janam ( Luo) and Onjelo Jagot (Kalenjin).
Subsequently, the mantra erased political suspicion and disconnect between the two leading Nilotic communities, who have for eons enjoyed better economic interactions but have remained cagey, coy and distance in political matters.
And the mantra saw Orange Democratic Movement Presidential candidate Raila Odinga for the first in history, received overwhelming support from the Kalenjin community and was fondly referred to as Arap Mibey.
The charm is already working after in a more symbolic gesture in Homa Bay county, the political bedroom of Raila, President Ruto was gifted with one of the lake’s biggest Nile Perch catches.
This signified his catch of Raila into his political basket as the bromance between the two leaders have unsettled some political quarters within and without the Kenya Kwanza government.
Finally, President Ruto had his dream and wish actualized as he also raided ODM top leadership and top allies into his fold.
In Raila and ODM, the protracted Gen Zee demonstrations that had threatened President Ruto’s regime and put him on the edge consequently forced him to reorganize his government have thawed .
With the lull, the President has lately re-embarked on his development tours of the country and international flights.
Apart from Raila, President Ruto also had a catch in ODM national chairman John Mbadi who is currently the Treasury Cabinet Secretary, Azimio Minority parliamentary leader Opiyo Wandayi, currently Energy Minister, the party Deputy Leaders Wycliff Oparanya and Hassan Joho all now in the cabinet.
Mbadi when he spoke during his recent home coming prayer in Suba South said It was time the community interrogated history of alliances and events to make wise political decision
“We have supported the people from Central and even after 2017 elections we got into handshake with a promise of leading us to presidency in 2022. This did not happen. We must now look out and know our genuine friends,” he said.
Mbadi said President Ruto stood with Raila in 2007 general elections and currently have awarded the community with prime posts even after they didn’t vote for him.
Wandayi said the decision to join the cabinet was the best and was in the interest of the community and the nation at large that was staring at imminent crumble.
“I was more than convinced from the first day that I have made the right decision. The purpose for which any political party exists is to capture state power, consolidate it, and use it for the benefit of the people. That is what we have been pursuing all along as ODM, and that is why the decision we have taken is in sync with the singular objective of any political party,” he said.
The CS said that they responded positively to the call extended to them, adding that leading the nation was something their party eyed but did not get.
“We have joined you because you have given us a chance to join you in the governance of the nation that we would have wanted to govern, but we never got a chance to do so, and we must thank you, Mr. President,” Wandayi said.
Siaya senator Dr Oburu Odinga was categorical on working with President Ruto and why ODM opted to cooperate with president.
“Mr. President, we welcome you to Siaya. We would like to thank you for the cabinet appointments, You took our top cream. We will work with you together. Raila my brother has sent to welcome you,” he said.
President Ruto welcomed the warm reception he received from the region and left tray full of goodies and promises to the lake region.
He promised to campaign for Raila for AU seat and was looking forward to a more symbiotic working relationship with the community .
But Ruto’s forage and charm on the lake did not start recently but immediately after winning 2022 presidential elections.
Despite failing to garner huge votes in Nyanza, Dr Ruto has been on charm and a reconciliatory path to woo the community into his political fold.
In his first seduction move, he bestowed in the community the powerful seat of Permanent Secretary of Internal Security to Dr Raymond Omolo and appointed Mr. Eliud Owalo to a cabinet post, However, was sacked in the recent government reorganization.
Similarly, CS Eliud Owalo has been on the offensive by initiating various programs such as food donations to the flood and hunger stricken members of the community
Owalo has also embarked on supporting sports through financial aid to Gor Mahia football club the heart-beat of the community.
President Ruto has launched various projects in the region including affordable housing program in Homa bay town of Homa Bay count
But it remains to be seen if whether the change of heart by a section of the community will birth a new political vehicle or may be frought.
