You dont make much sense because you're doing superficial analysis.
Uhuru and handshake crew are on the ropes because of Gachagua and others who have fought for 5yrs against gov.
So already Gachagua to the hustler nation (which is what matters for Ruto) is well known - a champion or a warrior - a leader of the troops.
The little competition/tiff he had within UDA/Hustler nation has ended - and everyone in has come to accept his leadership of mt Kenya crew.
He doesnt need to sell himself anymore that he has done the last 5yrs.
The scars and wounds of war that you call ugly - including corruption cases - he wears proudly and doesnt need to explain to Hustler Nation why he is has all those scars.
He is battle wounded because he is been fighting Uhuru.
Everyone in Hustler Nation bears those ugly scars...of court cases,random arrests, corrupt allegations (Ruto has gazillion) and all manners of intimidation & bribery.
Some like Itumbi - walk with broken bones! Others like Humprey Kariuki have been bankrupted.
Now comes Martha - who looks clean - because as Mt kenya has been fighting Uhuru and handshake crew - she has been sitting on the fence.
Martha only appeal to people who were not in Hustler Nation and were looking for a grounding.
Martha is their excuse to come out and firm their support.
It's like gay coming out because of change of law...they now have good excuse to say...you see I am supporting Martha
Otherwise anybody who support Ruto who is accused of even grander corrruption - cannot refuse to support Gachagua accused of little corruption.
And this is what data is telling us - at least the few I have seen.
Dont expect Martha to get new supporters - but her choice will firm Uhuru 15-25 percent - depending on the county.
Re uhuru, i think its the other way round.
Uhuru's die hard supporters already heard him. Him campaigning won't add rao numbers.
On the contrary, uk campaigning brings the baggage of many questions. Why didnt he groom a successor? Is he planning to remain relevant in mt kenya politics post august? Why is the economy doing so badly?
So uk keeping quiet changes the equation from a ruto vs uk contest to a martha vs rigathi one. Martha stands on her own, holds her own without uk baggage.
Martha also brings a clean slate. She hasnt been in govt for 15yrs. So cant blame her for the downward economic spiral
No corruption in 15yrs. The most recent memory mt kenya have of her is her at kicc in 2007 defending their man kibaki.
Contrast that with the DO gachagua who has a recent record of corruption cases + subjugation during moi. In fact, the main reason Ruto campaign doesnt want debates is cos of a gachagua-martha head to head on national tv. Expalins gachagua's recent reticence on the tv/radio.
In short, martha's campaign is not the one of elation, but the stark contrast with Gachagua. Talk to mt kenya residents and see the ebb. Rather obvious.