Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto has stated that he would not be defending his seat on a Jubilee ticket in the 2017 polls. – –thenews.co.ke
This declaration comes from September 2017, when Isaac Rutto—then governor of Bomet and leader of Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM)—firmly stated he would not join President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party.
He emphasized that although he supported Uhuru’s re-election effort, he remained the leader of CCM and had not defected.
Context & Timeline:
April 2017: Rutto expressed regret for helping form Jubilee in 2013, distancing himself from the ruling party.
September 2017: Amid rumors, he asserted:
He had not formally joined Jubilee, only supported its presidential bid to serve his electorate.
He continued to lead CCM.
He refused giving in to pressure or intimidation.
He even declined to wear Jubilee-branded attire (“kofia”) as a symbol of his independence.
Why This Was Significant:
Rutto was a prominent Nasa principal in the 2017 elections. His backing of Jubilee, even informally, caused friction with opposition figures like Raila Odinga.
Yet, his refusal to defect formally preserved a degree of political autonomy and earned him credibility among CCM supporters.
