Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto clashed publicly with Bomet Central MP Ronald Tonui over his presidential ambitions in 2022. The legislator told Ruto to drop his bid for the governor post in 2017 and gun for presidency following endorsement by various local leaders from the county during the meeting at Bomet Green Stadium. "Governor, you have been endorsed to run for presidenct and I wish you could change your mind and go for the seat in 2017.

 These people will be happy to see you leave the political arena," Mr Tonui said during a new year meeting. But Ruto dismissed the MP, saying he would run for president when the right time comes. "While I thank you for your endorsement to run for president, you cannot dictate to me when to go for it. I will only declare my interest at the right time, which probably could even be in 2022," he said. The county chief said voters should be left to democratically choose their leaders rather than impose leadership on them.

"It is the electorate who will decide in 2022 who will be their president, leave alone the succession rhetoric's we hear every other day. We actually need a break from that and leave Kenyans to decide for themselves," said Ruto. Tonui said Ruto's presidential ambition was a political suicide, saying the governor would exit to political oblivion by running for the top seat.

 "I will be the first one to endorse the governor for that seat in 2017 because we would be happy he will be leaving Bomet in the safe hands of new leadership as he exits to his rural home," Tonui told the press after the meeting. The MP said Ruto had no moral authority to neither criticise Deputy President William Ruto nor prepare to challenge him for the control of the Rift Valley. Tonui challenged Ruto to toe the political line within the community if he intended to seek a higher seat or even defend his current position. But Ruto stood his ground, saying he was ready to provide alternative leadership to Kenyans.

Others present were Kanu Secretary General Nick Salat, Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary General Wilson Sossion, Deputy Governor Stephen Mutai and Governor Ruto's wife Esther.