Deputy President William Ruto has been consolidating support from all over the country as he seeks to take over from President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2022.
DP Ruto understands full well that he will require billions of shillings to run a successful presidential campaign against ODM candidate Raila Odinga in 2022, having learnt the ropes in 2007 when he contributed nearly half of Raila Odinga’s campaign budget.
That he was President Kenyatta’s running mate in both 2013 and 2017 election, has no doubt given him some insights on how to execute a winning strategy come 2022.
In recent months, the DP has projected himself as a candidate who may not require the support of his boss, with Uhuru quipping that Ruto had chosen not to wait to be handed the baton in 2022.
Ruto's stand on BBI report has not helped matters with with many wondering whether the deputy president will have enough resources to fund an anti-BBI campaign in the looming referendum.
The DP may have to rely on deep-pocketed friends in his political circle. Here are some of the billionaire friends who will be bank rolling Ruto's presidential bid.
Sam Mburu
Sam Kamau Mburu is one of the few billionaire businessmen who has flying under the radar.
Recently married to one of Ruto’s foot soldiers in Mt Kenya Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika, Mburu could prove to be a valuable ally.
Mburu helped campaign for the Jubilee Party in 2020 where he met Kihika who was then seeking the Nakuru Senatorial seat.
Ngirici Family
Billionaire businessman Andrew Ngirici and his wife Purity Ngirici are staunch supporters of DP Ruto.
Lady luck smiled on Ngirici when he met the late spy chief James Kanyotu, who is said to have hired him as his Personal Assistant before making him his business associate; opening up opportunities for him to acquire wealth.
The power couple would be looking to neutralise Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru’s influence in the region who is an ally of Odinga.
Rigathi Gachagua
Rigathi, a former Personal Assistant of President Kenyatta is now one of his biggest critics and a key ally of DP Ruto in Mt Kenya.
Rigathi, who is facing a Ksh12 billion corruption case, claimed that the government was punishing him for supporting the deputy president.
Gachagua, who has worked as a national government administration officer for most of his life, has turned him into an effective mobiliser.
His understanding of government operations, coupled with his financial muscle is expected to wrestle out anyone who tries to win over central from Ruto.
Johnstone Muthama
When Muthama ditched Wiper Party, he announced that he would work day and night to ensure that DP Ruto becomes the next president.
"I'm making it clear that I'm working round the clock with other Kenyans to make sure that Deputy President Ruto becomes the fifth President of Kenya," he affirmed during a past interview.
Muthama added that his decision had been informed from a deep thought of the political future of his community.
He alleged that Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, had dropped his presidential ambition for another candidate too many times.