Political Commentator Herman Manyora now claims that he admires William Ruto and that the Deputy President highly rates his potential.
The University of Nairobi lecturer also warmed up to the possibility of Ruto forming government after winning the upcoming August elections.
The don proclaimed that despite his past anti-Ruto punditry, he was likely to be appointed to the Cabinet if the current DP makes it to State House.
"I love Ruto as a person. I’d perhaps even vote for him. If Ruto becomes president, you’ll see me as a cabinet secretary. Take it to the bank. He knows my potential,” he stated, in a video posted on his digital platforms.
This comment, however, came after a series of jibes thrown at the DP, while talking big of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader, Raila Odinga.
Manyora has been critical of the DP’s political ideologies and style of politicking. In the video, he took a swipe at Ruto’s Bottom-Up political ideology, while talking big on Raila’s contribution to Kenya’s history.
“Raila has risked everything. He has sacrificed everything in the interest of this country. How can you compare him with Ruto? There is nothing Ruto has done to show that he has the interest of people at heart,” stated Manyora.
He, in the meantime, trashed Raila and Ruto’s promises ahead of the upcoming elections. Raila has promised Ksh6,000 subsidies to underprivileged families while Ruto has promised Ksh1 billion kitty every year to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
“Politicians are like young boys. When they are trying to seek a young girl’s attention, they would give all sorts of promises but once they have the girl as a wife, they back down on some of the promises,” noted Manyora.
Asked to weigh in on President Uhuru’s perceived endorsement of the ODM party leader, the pundit asserted that every outgoing president would want to have a say in their succession.
“I don’t see a situation where an outgoing president can be said to be completely neutral and impartial. All outgoing presidents will always have an interest in their succession,” the political analyst stated.
He, however, remained coy on whether a presidential endorsement will turn out to be successful, invoking the 2002 elections analogy when then-President Daniel Arap Moi openly endorsed Uhuru’s presidential bid on a KANU ticket.
“Uhuru may choose to openly endorse Raila or do it indirectly. As to whether he will succeed, I can’t really compare it to 2002 at this time,” he stated.
Manyora also downplayed claims of intimidation from Ruto’s camp, claiming that coercion has always been a political strategy, as long as it doesn’t cross a “no go zone” of unlawful arrests, torture, abductions, and jail terms without sentencing.
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