Elections are held to choose new leaders to occupy governing offices.
There are per constitution 2 very important offices that should not remain vacant which media is not telling us. The Presidency which constitute the President and Deputy President.

Uhuru as President is serving his final term and holds the office until a new President is sworn in and hold the Dominion

Deputy President is as well elected on the same note and retains the office until a new Deputy is sworn in.

The dates of swearing in are stipulated in the constitution
This means the two ceases to hold office after swearing in of new elected leaders

Therefore there will be no level of intimidation that will scare Ruto until the last minute a new Deputy is sworn in.

Ruto does not need to resign to run for new office as President per constitution as the office of Presidency is protected in case the First falls vacant before swearing in new President.

Kenya is the project.

There are some people with interests to protect.
At the end, this boils down to who can protect the first family and their allies' interests and keep the country attractive enough for business.

Mukhisa of the chuma ya doshi fame

Musalia, Gidi Moi, Wetabix, Kalonzo Melon, the four will loose Presidency and their own Parliament seats.

Raila will loose big for not taking a Kikuyu as well as for taking either of the above 4.

Ruto can play the Women card by opting to have the first DP as a woman, but who is this strong woman to help him? How will Women select this woman to run with Ruto?

But again the Woman must be a Mt Kenya or affiliated regions but again not directly from Rift Valley .

Raila may not be strong in areas that Ruto helped him like it is Ruto who can easily garner points from ASAR (Arid and Semi Arid Regions who are pastrolists

Raila may also loose for depending too much on outgoing personalities who have nothing to loose.

Stop the comedy!! Uhuru and clever sharp in same sentence