This archive report was first published on 10 November 2021.
Published on November 10, 2021
As the 2022 presidential election heats up, Deputy President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga have enlisted the help of their children in their campaigns.
While the roles of Nick Ruto, the Deputy President's firstborn son, and Winnie Odinga, Raila's youngest daughter, may not be clearly defined, they are both actively involved in their fathers' political engagements.
Nick Ruto has been vocal on social media, rallying Kenyans to support his father's bid for State House. In a recent Facebook post, he called out President Uhuru Kenyatta for allegedly bluffing his father, saying, 'He (Uhuru) needed Ruto to beat the whole opposition. But today, he is organising six opposition principals to defeat Ruto. Ruto will mercilessly beat them on the ballot. Some struggles are too hard.'
Winnie Odinga, on the other hand, has been accompanying her father on both local and international trips, ensuring he looks good in public. She has also been involved in photo shoots, including one where she had to fix her father's crooked hat during a photo shoot in Kisii County.
Despite their efforts, Nick and Winnie have faced criticism from Kenyans who brand them as 'spoilt kids' and 'dynasty heirs' who ride on their fathers' connections to get ahead.
