Ruto’s 2022 lineup for Kajiado, Narok top seats – Weekly Citizen

Embattled deputy president William Ruto has crafted his preferred lineup for key positions in Kajiado and Narok counties, with eyes set on the governorship, senatorial and woman rep dockets in the two expansive counties in Maasailand.
Also not to be left out of the DP’s designs is the county assembly speaker’s job, whose holder wields substantial influence in the devolved setup across the country.
In his latest machination, Ruto appears to be grooming longserving Kajiado South MP Katoo ole Metito to be this arid region’s senator, a development that is fraught with the danger of opening up a can of worms in the already crowded race.
By canvassing for Katoo’s fresh fortunes at the senate, Ruto shall be ‘passing’ a vote of no confidence in the incumbent, Philip Mpayeei, who in turn is expected to battle it out with his predecessor, Peter Mositet, on one hand and embattled County assembly speaker Johnson Osoi on the other.

Katoo

As things stand, Mositet has little time for Ruto, who he accuses of conspiring with some dark forces to deny him the much sought after Jubilee ticket during the 2017 primaries.
Also suffering the same fate in the runup to the August 2017 polls, were former Olkejuado county council chairman Taraiya ole Kores, immediate former East African Portland Cement managing director Simon Peter ole Nkeri and politician Daniel Nina Livondo all who cited Ruto’s meddling in Jubilee primaries to their detriment.
One curious case that raised eyebrows was that of Ole Nkeri’s, who had won the race and actually declared Jubilee flagbearer for the senator’s position, only for him to later lose the ticket under very controversial circumstances.
More recently, Ruto dispatched his trusted allies, senate majority leader Kipchumba Murkomen, Nakuru senator Susan Kihika and Belgut MP Nelson Koech to Loitoktok and Kimana in Kajaido South, to drum up support for Katoo’s elevated status as future Kajiado senator.
During the separate church fundraisers in Katoo’s backyard, Ruto – who had been slated to preside over the two – had one message for people of Kajiado South; that having diligently served them for four consecutive terms, time had come for Katoo to be presented to the national political grid as Kajiado senator.

Lenku

Only recently, Ruto led area political leaders in endorsing Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo as Governor Samuel Tunai’s successor. With the DP’s unqualified blessings, Tongoyo is now gearing to face Interior chief administrative secretary Patrick ole Ntutu and former permanent secretary Joseph Tiampati among other heavyweights, who have set their sight on 2022.
With Ruto not seeing eye-to-eye with Ntutu’s boss – Interior CS Fred Matiang’i – it remains to be seen how things will slam out in the potentially explosive 2022 transition outing.
Back to Kajiado, Governor Joseph Ole Lenku still looks to retaining the DP’s backing, having been close allies all through. Ironically, Lenku is under siege from Kajiado East MP Peris Tobiko and Osoi, both who are expected to forge a united front with other likeminded personalities to bring Lenku to his knees.
Together with Lenku’s predecessor David Nkedianye, Kores, Mositet and Osoi, Tobiko’s threat to bring down the embattled governor cannot be wished away. So far, Tobiko has declared his interest in the county top seat, as are other new and tested aspirants.