Felix Ruto alias “Hustler Mdogo” Boda Boda Operator Seeking to Unseat Mishra in Kesses

Meet Felix Ruto alias ‘Hustler Mdogo’, who has launched his candidacy for the Kesses parliamentary seat.

Ruto, 29, is looking forward to fighting incumbent MP Swarup Mishra on August 9, on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket.

But first, the aspirant has to beat five other candidates also seeking to unseat Mishra on a UDA ticket. Mishra has intimated that he will run for re-election as an independent.

Former Uasin Gishu Finance executive Julius Rutto, former county assembly Speaker Isaac Terer, businessman Joseph Kemboi, former area MP James Bett, and soil scientist Samuel Rono are all running against Ruto in the UDA primaries.

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Hustler Mdogo has not mounted vehicles with screaming audio systems chanting his praises, unlike his competitors. He has, however, made effective use of his motorcycle to conduct door-to-door campaigns.

“I have what it takes to defeat Mr Mishra, though in terms of wealth we are worlds apart,” he told the Nation.

A natural born leader, Ruto’s goal to become MP almost came to a halt in 2020, when elders in his Kiptega community were taken aback by his ambition.

“They were uncertain about how I would fund my campaigns, reminding me that election was a game of oiled individuals,” he recalled.

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Nonetheless, they bestowed their blessings on him and have been by his side ever since, he asserted.

“Some even saw me as a joker but I have never disappointed them whenever I am given an audience to state my political ambition. I am not blowing my own trumpet, but my words have been from the heart, not to seek votes but to inspire people,” he added.

Friends, he said, stepped up to assist him in raising the party nomination money. Ever since, he has been on the road marshalling votes.

Ruto, the youngest of eleven children, claims that he is not seeking sympathy votes. Instead, he is looking to sell his agenda to the people.

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“I believe in what is inside a person more than what we see outside. I am not looking for sympathy votes. The money factor aside, I believe my manifesto is superior to that of my competitors,” he said.

If elected, he vows to prioritize education, job creation, and youth empowerment, among other things.

“At the moment it is the politically correct who enjoy better services and even infrastructure, and this is what I intend to rectify. This is what gave me motivation to contest the MP seat because equitable distribution of resources has been lacking for too long,” he said.