Deputy President William Ruto's new friendship with his political archenemy, former Agriculture Minister Kipruto arap Kirwa, has boosted his political command on the volatile North Rift region.
The former minister hails from Cherangany Hills, that is currently led by legislator Joshua Kutuny, who has been on all media platforms blasting the deputy president for his early 2022 campaigns under the "kieleweke" group.
The two new allies have been talking since the inception of the year regarding their union to propel the deputy president's succession plans according to sources close to the political figures.
Two meetings were held in Nairobi and at the DP’s rural home in Sugoi where they agreed to forge a way ahead together.
The former minister, who is the deputy leader of Mr Musalia Mudavadi’s Amani National Congress (ANC) party, has of late been attending functions either graced by the DP or those held by his allies in the North Rift.
Allies close to Ruto divulged that Mr Kirwa had also been approached to tame Kutuny, a friend-turned-foe of Dr Ruto, who is a vocal member of Kieleweke team - a group aligned to President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposed to the DP's plans.
Mr Kirwa was a long-time MP for Cherangany before he was ousted by Mr Kutuny in the 2007 elections and was a powerful figure during former President Daniel Moi's tenure.
"We will not allow the people of Cherangany to be used again by selfish leaders. We are working to unite our people,” stated Kirwa on Sunday.
On the other hand, Kutuny asserted that the tangatanga team was not warmly received in Cherangany.
He went on to dismiss plans to remove him from his parliamentary seat, noting that his main focus was development in the constituency.
