As the nation laid to rest the late ex-president Daniel Moi on Wednesday, Deputy President William Ruto was among those who walked away from the event with a political upgrade.
This was after the audience treated the deputy head of state to a surprisingly resounding welcome to the dais, to pay his final tribute to the fallen political giant.
Even before the DP rose from his seat, thunderous cheers filled the venue, immediately KANU secretary-general, Nick Salat, mentioned Ruto’s name.
It took a few minutes for the defeating cheers to die down, re-erupting every now and then as Ruto delivered his speech.
Taking to Twitter shortly after Moi was laid to rest, Elgeyo Marakwet senator Kipchumba Murkomen noted that the DP had become a force to reckon with.
Earlier, it had been alleged that Ruto had lost his popularity as the Rift Valley kingpin to Moi’s son, Baringo Senator, Gideon Moi.
According to Murkomen, however, there was no stopping Ruto, who was already on the path to political success.
”There is something brewing and I saw it today. It’s gonna be difficult to stop it,” he noted.
Despite Ruto’s subtle show of might on Wednesday, Gideon also walked away from his father’s send-off an elevated man, after he was declared Moi’s political successor in the family.
The last born of the former president was handed a replica of his father’s rungu by his elder brother, Raymond, and was charged with filling Moi’s empty shoes.
Gideon Moi handed Mzee Moi's 'rungu'. #MoiFuneral pic.twitter.com/EKchuRDY4z
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) February 12, 2020