This archive report was first published on 4 October 2019.
Ruto's Presidential Ambitions: A Long Shot for 2022 ¶
Published on October 4, 2019, this article assesses William Ruto's chances of winning the presidency in 2022.
Every person with a clear vision and a well-informed dream can achieve their goals with hard work, teamwork, and discipline. However, Ruto's presidential ambitions may be a long shot for 2022, given his limited national and international political network, grassroots support, and voting blocs from key regions.
According to regional vote allocations, the Coast, Mt. Kenya, Western, Nyanza, Nairobi, Lower Eastern, and North Eastern regions have a combined total of 11,897,160 votes. In contrast, Ruto's stronghold in the Rift Valley region, along with 50% of the North Eastern region's votes, totals 4,607,006 votes.
Analysts have allocated all Rift Valley votes to Ruto, including some parts of Kajiado, Narok, Nakuru, Trans-Nzoia, and Turkana areas that have historically supported Raila and Uhuru. However, these votes from the Maasai and some parts of Nakuru and Trans-Nzoia cancel out Ruto's potential votes from other areas like Kisii, Nairobi, Coast, Central, and Lower Eastern.
Handshake supporters, led by Uhuru and Raila, are well-prepared for the 2022 elections, while Ruto's team is facing threats to stop their campaigns. The graft war also damages Ruto's political milestones daily.
Despite these challenges, Ruto still has a chance to become Kenya's president in a later date, beginning from 2027. His family background and personal resilience may drive his presidential ambition, as seen in the examples of former USA presidents like Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, Harry Truman, and Barack Obama, who rose from humble beginnings to achieve greatness.
