Editor's Review

Ruto is expected to use the rally today to marshal supporters from Bomet and Kericho behind his bid

All preparations are done for Deputy President William Ruto's Sunday mega rally at Kapkatet stadium in Bureti Kericho county.

The rally dubbed 'Kapkated Declaration' has been symbolic in nature, and will be used by the Elders to officially pray for and bless William Ruto ahead of the August 9, general polls.

Ruto is not the first leader to be blessed at the historic ground. In 2007 and 2013, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta were blessed at Kapkatet respectively and given instruments of power by the famous Kalenjin Council of Elders.

Ruto is expected to use the rally today to marshal supporters from Bomet and Kericho, two of his strongholds in the Rift Valley, to solidly remain behind his bid.

This was after recent opinion polls placed the South Rift region as one of the battlegrounds between Raila Odinga and William Ruto.

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Already, the stadium is near capacity by the time of this publication. ANC Party Leader Musalia Mudavadi, Ford Kenya's Moses Wetangula, and all Kenya Kwanza leaders from across the country are expected to accompany Ruto to Kapkatet.

Ruto is expected at the stadium to lead a major rally dubbed Kapkatet Declaration. Photo: Courtesy

However, supremacy battles between UDA and former Governor Isaac Ruto's CCM party are expected at the rally.

Isaac Ruto, who is one of the leaders supporting Ruto's presidential bid has announced that he will attend the rally, and his rivalry with the incumbent Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok of UDA is expected to play out.

CCM's Secretary-General Albert Kochei has, however, challenged their party supporters to attend in large numbers and maintain peace as one way of showing respect to DP William Ruto and the elders who are expected to carry out their blessings.

“We will be there as part of the Kenya Kwanza family. We are urging all our supporters to maintain peace and accord the DP and visitors honour and respect during the rally,” Kochei said.


This comes after Ruto's last rally at Bomet Green Stadium was interrupted in January after UDA supporters of Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok clashed with those of Isaac Ruto's CCM party. Ruto was forced to prematurely end the meeting and flew to Kericho.