If you begin from a wrong premise then you get everything wrong.
The premise that majority of those that voted Jubilee candidates; were voting or are willing to vote for Raila is untested and false;
In fact Jubilee spend more time running away from ODM/Raila in their campaigns - and took issues with merger talks.
Kimunya is even on video - saying they have no problem with Ruto on the top.
Why is Raila best opponent for Ruto...because GEMA including Uhuru himself will not vote for him.
If Babaman is made aware of this - and he was not a day-dreamer - he would do the rational thing - become a king maker.
Ruto is afraid of someone like Kalonzo or MaDVD or even Matiangi - becuase if UHuru was to sell one of those - they could get a traction - he could actually deliver some of that 50 (ignoring local issues) to them. Selling Babaman is something else - all we have heard is Tuju-Murathe ODM-Jubilee merger which even Kieleweke opposed...Raila is hard sell.
As for Raila handshake strategic moves- mmh - MAYBE YOU SHOULD CONSIDER HE IS BEING USED - rather than he is using anyone- and maybe you should review what he has really gained.
It almost seem Jubilee will rebrand into UDA - leaving ODM with baggage
of old Jubilee rag. Brilliant moves.
Ruto is hardworking and organized. Raila is more strategic. I mean Raila just stole the Gema prince, decapitated Jubilee, and all this hard work Ruto must put in Gema is literally to undo Raila handshake effect. Whatever you give Raila in Gema remember he had NOTHING - maybe 2% - 3 years ago.
Ruto has played his biggest cards - hustler vs dynasty and bottom-up - some traction in Gema, flop in non-Gema. See Kalonzo has no known ideology or vision but delivered such a comprehensive rout in Machakos.
BBI is in court. If you think that is wishful thinking... Raila and Kalonzos are hanging on it. That is why none of them will be caught dead with Ruto - cause that would ruin their chances - it posturing time. Even pwani crew are waiting to be CS.
And how is this Kiambaa outcome good for Ruto? If Jubilee does not die - that is very risky for Ruto - because if BBI resurrects Kimunyas will have goodies to sell. Don't forget BBI is Uhuru-Raila decoy to string everyone especially Gema.
Ati local issues - this was purely 2022. BBI is in comatose, Uhuru candidate is Raila, and you TIE 50-50 with him. Not good at all for Ruto.
What is not wishful is UDA/Ruto are in GEMA frontdoor. What is wishful is BBI , Uhuru campaigning for Raila and finally NASA uniting. The most wishful is Raila getting 50 percent of GEMA
What is not wishful is this election ended indeed in a stalemate. There are of course local issues - but UDA did not manage to bury Jubilee completely.
There will be no funeral for Jubilee yet.
This good for Ruto - as UDA badly needed to enter front door of GEMA - not going through the window (PDP/TSP) - but it means he needs more work on Mt Kenya - and this also good to keep Babaman hopeful. Ruto needs Raila to win 2022.