THE VICTORIOUS JOURNEY OF WILLIAM RUTO

It has been a rollercoaster ride for Deputy President William Ruto. His endorsement to fly the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) presidential flag, is a culmination of a 20-year political journey walked by the deputy president.

The Tuesday UDA national delegates convention marked a significant milestone in the deputy president’s political career.

The DP had been expelled from the Jubilee Party following his association with the United Democratic Alliance that nominated him a presidential candidate.

Over 4000 delegates were gathered at the Kasarani gymnasium as Ruto went through the nomination formalities.

In signing on the dotted line of the declaration, the deputy president officially ended his association with the ruling Jubilee Party.

“I William Ruto accept your nomination to be the UDA party, presidential candidate… I promise you a campaign that you will be proud of,” he told a cheered crowd.

Ruto’s story of political parties reads like de javu. Kicked out of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, the deputy president took over the control of the United Democratic Movement (UDM). But a leadership tussle made him shop for another party, the United Republican Party (URP).

URP came together with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s The National Alliance (TNA) in 2012 to win the election and form government.

In 2017, URP and TNA folded to form the Jubilee Party. President Uhuru Kenyatta became the Jubilee Party leader with DP Ruto being the deputy party leader.

But the advent of the handshake in 2018 shook up the arithmetic within the Jubilee administration. DP Ruto, opposed to handshake, was sidelined and isolated not only within the government but also in the ruling party.

With the breakdown of relations at the Jubilee Party, DP Ruto and his allies began shopping for yet another home. UDA was born in December 2020 as the alternative house from the Jubilee Party.

At a recent Jubilee Party NDC, Ruto and his allies were shown the door. The UDA delegates conference now marks yet another turning point as DP Ruto finds a new abode that he will use to challenge for the country’s presidency.

“I am grateful for your support and sacrifice… I welcome you on this walk until we knock on the gates of the glorious throne,” he said on Tuesday.

Courtesy

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