By Johnson Friday
Isaac
Kiprono Ruto is a seasoned politician and a shrewd businessman who has gone
against the grain to beat all odds and become who and what he is today. His
bravery and gallantry is unmatched.
He came into
the lime light in 2007 after ODM thwarted PNU in the chungwa banana referendum.
He rode on the ODM popularity and clinched the Chepalungu MP seat which he held
until 2013 when he ran for Bomet county governorship in the new constitutional
dispensation.
He was then
elected as the 1st chair of the Council of Governors CoG and this is where his
claws were seen. He chose unpopular path to become the opposition leader in the
TNA/URP coalition. He became the fiercest and ferocious critique of the UHURUTO
government. This earned him foes and allies in equal measure from the political
divide.
The ruling
coalition became uncomfortable with his unending denigration and at a certain
point threatened to banish him from the URP party lead by his nemesis William
Samoi Ruto. He stood his ground and dared them to make true their threats.
These threats never saw the light of the day as the lion of Chepalungu moved to
form his Chama Cha Mashinani party CCM widely known. He intimated that since he
had no romance for URP and ceased to believe in the ideologies of Chama cha
kusema na kutenda he saw it wise to move and form a party that will resonate
well with local mwananachi.
His recent
decree to support NASA and its presidential flag bearer Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga
aka Joshua was received with mixed reactions some praising it and some
condemning it. With time Isaac Ruto has become the darling of many in NASA
rallies as his charismatic nature pulls crowd.
He has
developed a language and humor that reverberates and resonates well the local
mwananachi, he has perfected the art of public speech to his advantage to win
votes for NASA.
Who ever
thought that Isaac Ruto a former student activist who vehemently opposed
policies of the retired President Daniel arap Moi and later detained along with
other student activists following the coup d’état attempt of 1982 would become
the KIPSIGIS kingpin?
I foresee
Isaac Ruto taking the Kalenjin leadership mantle from William Ruto after August
8th 2017.
His
pliability, resilience and fortitude is worth emulating in politics, business
and real life.
Long live
the lion of Chepalungu.
