Anyone who thinks President William Ruto will be a pushover come 2027 as someone else whizzes by him to become our sixth president, is mistaken.
Ruto should not be underestimated at all. Yes, he is a wounded lion politically speaking, but he’s still a live, limbing lion quite capable of going for a kill to survive or fend off would be attackers.
Except, of course, if the attacker is a stronger, healthy beast determined to finish the wounded lion in which case the wounded lion would have seen its better days.
Not too many people would have said even a few months ago that there was such a beast lurking somewhere in the bushes waiting to finish Ruto politically.
To be sure, there was one in the name of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, but Ruto cleverly roped Raila into his camp making sure that even as he is politically wounded — especially in the Mt Kenya region which was instrumental in his election—with Raila not being a candidate for 2027, the election would be a stroll back to State House for a second term.
This was not an unrealistic belief or strategy because many have always believed it is only Raila who could beat Ruto hands down as he believes he did in 2022, but the vote counters begged to differ.
When Raila joined the broad-based government, the objective must have been twofold: One, of course to be in government as he has always been alongside his hand-picked loyalists and ODM politicians close to him.
Two, to save Ruto from being made a first term president while sharing and even calling the shots in at least the period leading up to the elections.
It would be unwise to say to call the shots after the elections because if Ruto is reelected on account of Raila’s support, he has not demonstrated he has long lasting loyalties to anyone.
Therefore, it would be conceivable that on being sworn for the second term, he will simply shred whatever MoU he has with Raila and do as he pleases with the government no different to what someone is doing in what is now being described as a leading “emerging economy,” formerly known as the great United States.
This is precisely the reason why even Ruto cannot be content that he will have the support of Raila through elections of 2027. Raila is a seasoned, time tested political animal who knows not only how to survive politically but has what it takes to turn around and give Ruto a run for his money should he find a need to do so.
But the money is or should be on Ruto doing everything he can to keep Raila happy and on his side and thus far, he is doing just that.
Raila not being a factor in the opposition, and more specifically, Raila not being a candidate to challenge Ruto, leaves only one beast who can potentially take on and defeat Ruto.
That beast is not former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka who try as he can, he just doesn’t have what it takes. We obviously know that beast cannot be the other former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua.
Neither can it be the People’s Liberation Party Martha Karua nor any of the lesser known mortals. Every one of them has the same problem they all have and that is simply, none has what it takes to take on and defeat a sitting president, especially one as cunning and with a take no prisoners mindset like Ruto.
And what does it take exactly? Money, widespread appeal and ability to excite the young turks.
There is only one candidate who doesn’t have all of that but can have it all in no time upon his entering the race and that is one Dr Fred Matiang’i.
Yes, it’s not someone who many considered had it and many may still consider he lacks at least money but ask Ruto who he would rather not face come 2027, it would have to be Matiang’i.
He would even prefer Raila over Matiang’i.
That’s how formidable a candidate Matiang’i is in the waiting.
