2022 County Spotlight: Kericho and Bomet — The Kalenjin Heartland

Kericho and Bomet are the beating heart of Kalenjin political loyalty. In 2022, Kericho gave William Ruto 95.32% of the valid vote. Bomet gave him 95.27%. These are the two highest percentages Ruto received anywhere in Kenya. Raila Odinga managed just 15,053 votes in Kericho (4.50%) and 13,383 in Bomet (4.47%). If Homa Bay is Odinga’s fortress, Kericho and Bomet are Ruto’s twin citadels.

Together, these two counties had 805,149 registered voters and delivered over 634,000 valid votes at a combined turnout approaching 80%. That is not just dominance — it is dominance with mobilisation.

The 2022 Presidential Results

Kericho County:

• William Ruto (UDA): 318,861 votes (95.32%)
• Raila Odinga (Azimio): 15,053 votes (4.50%)
• George Wajackoyah: 395 votes (0.12%)
• David Mwaure: 207 votes (0.06%)
• Total valid votes: 334,516 | Rejected: 1,821 | Turnout: 78.56%

Bomet County:

• William Ruto (UDA): 285,428 votes (95.27%)
• Raila Odinga (Azimio): 13,383 votes (4.47%)
• George Wajackoyah: 561 votes (0.19%)
• David Mwaure: 234 votes (0.08%)
• Total valid votes: 299,606 | Rejected: 1,545 | Turnout: 79.88%

The numbers are almost identical between the two counties. Combined, Ruto received 604,289 votes against Odinga’s 28,436 — a margin of 575,853 votes. This margin alone is larger than the total valid votes cast in most individual counties.

Historical Comparison: Kenyatta 2017 vs Ruto 2022

How do these results compare with Kenyatta’s performance in 2017?

Kericho:

• 2017: Kenyatta 272,974 (92.79%), Odinga 19,448 (6.61%)
• 2022: Ruto 318,861 (95.32%), Odinga 15,053 (4.50%)
• Ruto gained +45,887 votes and +2.53 percentage points over Kenyatta

Bomet:

• 2017: Kenyatta 229,599 (87.06%), Odinga 31,822 (12.07%)
• 2022: Ruto 285,428 (95.27%), Odinga 13,383 (4.47%)
• Ruto gained +55,829 votes and +8.21 percentage points over Kenyatta

The story is clear: Ruto outperformed Kenyatta in both counties, and by a significant margin in Bomet. Bomet’s swing from 87.06% to 95.27% suggests that the Kenyatta era still left room for improvement in Kalenjin heartland counties. Ruto, as a native son, consolidated that vote almost completely.

The IEBC’s official results confirm that Kericho and Bomet were among only five counties where either candidate exceeded 90% of the valid vote. The others were Siaya, Homa Bay, and Elgeyo/Marakwet.

Turnout: The Mobilisation Machine

What makes Kericho and Bomet stand out beyond their percentages is their turnout. Kericho’s 78.56% and Bomet’s 79.88% were among the highest in the country. Only a handful of counties — West Pokot (79.51%), Narok (77.73%), and Baringo (77.59%) — came close.

Compare this to Odinga strongholds: Kisumu (71.37%), Homa Bay (73.70%), Siaya (70.89%). Odinga’s Nyanza base had respectable turnout. But the Kalenjin heartland mobilised at a higher rate, which amplified the raw vote advantage.

The Daily Nation’s analysis noted that Rift Valley turnout was driven by a combination of community mobilisation, strong local political networks, and Ruto’s personal appeal as a homecoming candidate.

Kericho and Bomet in the Rift Valley Context

These two counties sit at one end of a Rift Valley spectrum:

• Kericho: 95.32% Ruto — maximum loyalty
• Bomet: 95.27% Ruto — virtually identical
• Nandi: 91.30% Ruto — close behind
• Elgeyo/Marakwet: 96.86% Ruto — actually the highest Ruto county
• Baringo: 80.69% Ruto — strong but not total
• Nakuru: 66.44% Ruto — cosmopolitan, more competitive

The Rift Valley is Ruto’s power base, but the degree of dominance varies significantly. The Kalenjin-majority counties (Kericho, Bomet, Nandi, Elgeyo/Marakwet) form the inner ring of near-total support. Mixed-community counties like Nakuru and Trans Nzoia are far more competitive.

Lessons from the Heartland

1. 95% is a ceiling. Like Odinga in Homa Bay, Ruto in Kericho and Bomet has essentially maximised his vote share. Future gains must come from elsewhere.
2. Turnout is already high. Unlike Odinga’s urban strongholds where turnout lagged, the Kalenjin heartland already mobilises at near-maximum rates. There is less room for improvement.
3. The opposition is essentially absent. Odinga’s 4.5% in both counties means there is no organised opposition infrastructure. For any challenger in 2027, building from zero in these areas is nearly impossible.

For the constitutional provisions governing presidential elections, see the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, Article 138.

Kericho and Bomet have over 1,500 polling stations combined. In a stronghold, the risk is not losing — it is under-counting. Votrack’s parallel tallying ensures every station reports and every vote is verified against the official count. Request a demo and protect your base.