Huge blow to Ruto as leaders endorsed Gideon candidacy

By Samuel Ouma [caption id="attachment_51979" align="alignleft" width="507"] DP Ruto[/caption] The deputy president William Ruto’s presidential bid suffered a major blow on Friday, September 7, 2018 after leaders from his backyard resolved to support his nemesis Baringo Senator Gideon Moi. The leaders drawn from Nandi, Elgeyo Marakwet, Uasin Gishu and Baringo counties said the Kenya African National Union (Kanu) chairman is the best candidate to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta on the ground of his development records and good reputation unlike some aspirants whose names are tainted by corruption cases. “The country accomplished great milestone during former President Daniel Moi’s 24-year rule and that is why Gideon should take power after President Kenyatta. Senator Moi has a clean track record untainted by corruption,” said Paul Kibet, Northern Kenya Kanu coordinator. Addressing the press during Kanu party retreat at Elgeyo Marakwet County, the leaders agreed to roll out grassroots mobilization countrywide to strengthen Moi’s candidacy. They appealed to President Kenyatta to back Mr. Moi because he shelved his presidential ambition in both 2013 and 2017 to support him. On fight against graft, the leaders assured President of their support asking him to take war on corruption to the door steps of the lords of corruption if he wants to achieve his Big Four agenda which include universal health, food security, affordable housing and manufacturing. In August 22, 2018, IPSOS Synovate research revealed that the deputy president is the most corrupt in the country. IPSOS Synovate researcher Tom Wolf said 33% of those interviewed pointed Ruto as a corrupt leader. Ruto seems to always be a man under siege with countless corruption allegations being leveled against him. Some of the big scandals are Lang’ata Road primary school land grab scandal, Muteshi land grab, Maize scandal in the Grand coalition government, Hustler’s jet scandal and Kenya pipeline land grab. In the beginning of this month Ruto’s chance of becoming president diminished after elder’s council from Meru community, stronghold of President Kenyatta endorsed the former president’s son. Led by the elders chairman James Merianga, they pledged to rally voters from Mt. Kenya region to support Mr. Moi during 2022 polls. “As a council, we cannot forget how President Moi was generous to our community and that is why we have decided to pass by in our tour of this region. We also needed to assure him of our support should he require it,” reiterated Merianga.s