Don't challenge me on matters politics Kadudu. I started watching Ruto in 2001. You really know very little in politics. Ruto started in 1998 (immediately after the election in 1997 dec) with Y2K young member pushing for KANU reforms (KANU B) - and when that didn't work - they formed UDM. Jirongo was first one to run back to KANU after he started becoming broke. The quartet left was Kirwa, Kapten, and Ruto.
Mid 2000 - Ruto got tapped in by Moi as Ass Min in Office of the president - and he proved himself so much - he became only Ass minister to be allowed to sit in Cabinet.I started noticing him around that 2001 - because nobody could defend KANU (with all his evils) like Ruto could and leave you nearly convinced. I knew he had rare propaganda talent there.
By 2002 - Ruto had become KANU Organizing Secretary or Director of Elections - Uhuru was one VC - and they were running circles around Saitoti and Raila (considered an outsider in KANU anyway). Gideon was CLUELESS politically but had direct access to Moi.
Come 2002 - Ruto became Minister of State in dying days of MOi - he was barely 35 yrs then.
And when KANU lost - a new election was done - in 2003 - and Ruto took KANU SEC GENERAL - Uhuru the Chairman - and Gideon Moi was nowhere to be seen
Raila never made Ruto. Ruto was already KANU sec general and Kalenjin leader (appointed by all sacred KANU MPS).
Ruto was only Kalenjin brave enough to talk and Kiraitu arrested him.
This was long before LDP fall out - with NAK -and we get into 2005.
Pundit, as usual you have to bring in Ruto's name. Ruto was a spectator in the political field in 2002. He even played a smaller role than Cyrus Jirongo. Ruto only emerged as the Kalejin kingpin when he allied himself with Raila against the will of Moi in 2005. At that time Gideon did not need Ruto but the opposite.