Knowing well that governor Barchok is doing his final term, Isaac Rutto has decided to swallow his pride and support the governor as he plots how to succeed him in the 2027 elections. Even the president Ruto is aware that Isaac Rutto is not a political greenhorn and must be accommodated if the president is to consolidate his support in his Kalenjin backyard
Most Kenyans know that President William Ruto and former Bomet county Governor Isaac Rutto are not the best of political friends. The two fell out during the campaigns for the 2017 elections where Isaac Rutto through his party Chama Cha Mashinani joined the National Super Alliance (NASA) while William Ruto was in Jubilee Party.
Issac Rutto lost the Bomet gubernatorial seat to Jubilee Party’s candidate Dr Joyce Laboso (RIP) who garnered 175,932 votes against Ruto’s 85,863 votes. During the last elections, Rutto joined the Kenya Kwanza Coalition and vied on his party’s ticket but again lost to the UDA candidate incumbent Hillary Barchok.
Governor Barchok garnered 158,798 votes while Rutto received 137,323 votes. The ever-combative Rutto shocked many when he conceded defeat and vowed to work with Barchok to ensure Bomet Residents are served well and better. According to political analysts, Rutto’s pledge to support Barchok is a political scheme that will eventually see him win the 2027 gubernatorial race and finish his last term having served for one term between 2017-2022.
The president’s men are also aware that the former governor is a political force to reckon with in Bomet politics having lost with a small margin of only 21,475 votes despite the UDA wave which was sweeping across the entire Rift Valley. To show how Rutto’s political influence is growing, in the 2017 elections when he vied on an opposition ticket, he lost by a margin of 90,096 as compared to a margin of 21,475 in the last elections.
Knowing so well that Barchok is doing his final term, Rutto has decided to swallow his pride and support the governor as he plots how to succeed him in the 2027 elections. Even the president is aware that Rutto is not a political greenhorn and must be accommodated if he is to consolidate his support in his Kalenjin backyard.
