Once considered a close ally to each at different stages of his career, Ruto has since found himself at odds with all three, making their relationships a central feature of Kenya's evolving political landscape.
Ruto's rise to national prominence began under former President Daniel arap Moi. As a youth leader in the pro-Moi YK'92 movement, he earned the trust of the KANU establishment before eventually becoming a Cabinet minister.
However, their relationship deteriorated after Moi backed his son, Gideon Moi, as his preferred political successor in the Rift Valley.
His alliance with former President Uhuru Kenyatta marked another defining chapter. The two joined forces ahead of the 2013 General Election under the Jubilee Alliance and successfully won both the 2013 and 2017 presidential elections.
However, their partnership began to unravel following the 2018 "Handshake" between Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Ruto's supporters accused the then-president of sidelining him and abandoning an earlier understanding that he would back Ruto's 2022 presidential bid. The fallout transformed the once-close allies into political rivals.
Ruto also maintained a complicated relationship with Raila Odinga over the years. The two have alternated between cooperation and intense political competition.
They worked together during the 2007 constitutional referendum campaign but later became opponents in successive elections. During the 2022 presidential race, Ruto campaigned on the "Hustler versus Dynasty" narrative, portraying himself as the outsider challenging the long-standing political influence of the Kenyatta and Odinga families. That message became one of the defining themes of his successful presidential campaign.
Since assuming office, however, Kenya's political dynamics have shifted once again. Ruto has pursued cooperation with leaders he once criticized, including Raila Odinga, under the broad-based government arrangement aimed at fostering political stability and national unity.
He has also held engagements with former President Uhuru Kenyatta, signalling a more conciliatory approach despite their previous differences.
Political analysts view these developments as evidence of Kenya's fluid political alliances, where strategic partnerships often evolve in response to changing national interests and electoral calculations.
Despite these renewed engagements, Ruto's relationships with the Moi, Kenyatta and Odinga families remain among the most closely watched aspects of Kenyan politics.
As the country edges closer to the 2027 General Election, observers expect these alliances—and any future disagreements—to continue shaping the nation's political direction.
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Politics