You clearly understimate Ruto
Ruto knows Raila won in 2007 - but he knew Raila wasnt ready to take power - and will never be ready.
Raila is too soft and allowed Mt kenya to play games with him for two decades.
So Ruto in 2008 took a detour to Mt kenya having realized the mistake Kalenjin made.
It meant supporting the drunkard Uhuru for 10yrs - and hoping he will be drunk - and Ruto will run things.
That worked perfect well - except for the 2nd term bumps on the way.
And while in Jubilee - Ruto dismantled the Mt Kenya political class - and installed his own crew.
Once Ruto was president.
I knew the first business he will do is to inherit Raila block - there is no need to let a dying elephant die with tusk.
Ruto is in that business now - fix Raila in AU and then inherit ODM - he really doesnt care about LUO ODM that much
But Non-Luo ODM where he has been competing with Raila for two decades - from coast, nep, turkana, maa, gusii, luhya etc.
That is Ruto game plan.
Raila in 3yrs - if he attempts to comeback - will find ODM has imploded and been completely taken over by Ruto.
Ngoja tu - he goes to AU - ndio aone MOTO.
Ruto gameplan is to create his OWN POLITICAL MACHINE - like his mentor Moi had in 25yrs in power - not become subservient to Mt kenya.
Gachagua was a silly irritating petulant who didnt read that.
Kept threatening Ruto with little Kikuyu vote - thinking Ruto is afraid of that.
Anyway 2027 Ruto will make sure with or without a coalition he has at least 40% of the vote like Moi.
If Kindiki can get 10% - well and good.
If not 10% will be given to Kalonzo, Raila, anyone.
As for 2027 - it going to be easy - Anti- Ruto - versus Anti-Kikuyu Entitlement.
Ruto knows how to sell political narratives.
ICC is dead - Putin & Netanyahu are wanted - Trump doesnt give flying rat about it.
And Kikuyus will cow and accept defeat in 2027 like Luos have been doing because they know better than start a war with Kalenjin.
That will be DOUBLE WHAMMY if not a triple one.
So be frustrated, be angry, but you're essentially making your situation worse.
Ruto will slowly dismantle the kikuyu entitlement and set anti-kikuyu platform to neutralize anti-Ruto platform that kikuyus are unleashing.
All is fair in war.
Exactly Ruto has clinical madness , how would you explain being visionary in 2008 hack that in 2002 knowing Railapolitics then joining him and playing same politics in 2023 hoping to win when Raila has lost 5 times playing similar kind of politics.
Fyi Ruto is not off hook ICC most probably he will end up there gain if he tries to still in 2027.