Isaac Ruto ditches NASA for Jubilee

Former Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto, one of the six NASA principals, has switched allegiance to the Jubilee Party.

The fierce Jubilee critic who lost out to Governor Joyce Laboso in the race for Bomet County’s leadership was in the company of Johanna Ngeno of KANU and Deputy President William Ruto at Kapkatet, Kericho County where they received President Kenyatta ahead of a rally.

Since the advent of devolution, the fiery Bomet County ex-Governor Ruto has been a thorn in the flesh of the Deputy President Ruto after fomenting political rebellion in the vote-rich Rift Valley.

However, the rebellion did not bear much fruit following defeats in the Kericho Senate by-election in which Governor Ruto rooted for a KANU candidate Paul Sang.

The Chama Cha Mashinani leader was also crushed by the former National Assembly Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso in the governorship race in a landslide victory.

But the Supreme Court judgement invalidating President Kenyatta’s re-elections seems to have given him an opportunity to redeem himself in the Jubilee stronghold.

NASA REACTION

National Super Alliance has, however, dismissed Ruto’s defection as inconsequential insisting it will win the upcoming fresh presidential vote without his input.

“If indeed he has left the formation, then karma has a way of dealing with people.

“We as a coalition are unshakeable; and what I am certain is that we will emerge victorious in the October 17 presidential vote with or without his input. His perceived departure, if true, does not subtract a single vote from us,” said Norman Magaya, the NASA Secretariat Chief Executive Officer.