The political intrigues in the vote-rich Rift Valley region is heating up ahead of the general elections next year. The region is split on who should be its kingpin between the deputy president William Ruto and Baringo Senator Gideon Moi. Voters from the region are split on who they should rally behind moving into the elections year.

The two leaders have been engaged in an overdrive to seek endorsements from the elders in the area. In January Senator Gideon Moi was endorsed a section of the Talai elders, one of the communities in Nandi county. However, the endorsements were dismissed by the deputy president and his supporters.

However, there is a growing discussion on the need for the country to shun politics of ethnicity and focus on real issues affecting the citizens. The deputy president has said on different occasions that his quest is to unite all Kenyans and create a level playing field for all regions.

Historically, Kenyans have chosen leaders along regional lines which makes the political inroads in rift valley worthwhile for the two leaders. However the 2019 census showed that a majority of the voters in the general elections next year will be the youth demographic who may not align the regional politics agenda. Therefore, it is expected that the two leaders aiming for the country's top seat will use mixed political strategies to capture the Rift Valley voters.

Content created and supplied by: SOduma (via Opera News )