Majority leader at the Senate Kipchumba Murkomen has backed DP William Ruto’s claims of ODM plan to divide Jubilee party ahead of 2022.
According to Murkomen Raila Odinga’s party wants to paint the DP in bad light while its members praise President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The Elgeyo Marakwet Senator was responding to remarks by Minority Whip Junet Mohammed that “Ruto was using Raila as a scapegoat to leave Jubilee”.
“It is something that has been building over time. We’ve been reminded all the time that the handshake is about two people and the DP should not involve himself,” he said on Monday.
The legislator told journalists at Parliament Buildings on Monday that ODM was using the handshake to undermine the deputy president.
Ruto, while in Mombasa on Sunday, spoke of powerful forces out to scuttle Jubilee’s succession plans.
In apparent reference to Raila, the DP said the latter chased him away from ODM and has now followed him to Jubilee to do the same.
Junet, however, said the deputy president has a history of ditching parties and should not try to pin his imminent exit on Raila or ODM.
Murkomen, a key Ruto confidant, claimed that Raila hinted at the plan to wreck Jubilee during a recent meeting with Ford party leaders.
“When he met the Ford leaders two weeks ago Raila said he would break Jubilee,” the Senator said.
The claims came in the wake of Siaya Senator James Orengo maintaining that Raila would contest the top seat in the 2022 elections.
However, the ODM leader has steered clear of the discussion.
Minority Whip Junet Mohammed had earlier hit back at DP William Ruto over his claims that Raila Odinga is using the handshake to destabilise Jubilee and chase him out of the party.
He said Ruto is angry and wants to leave Jubilee then blame his departure on someone else.
The Suna East MP spoke at Wilson Airport on Monday before leaving for the Migori Senate by-election that will be held on October 8.
He was accompanied by Mombasa governor Hassan Joho.
Junet said the DP has a history of ditching parties and should not try to pin his imminent exit on Raila or ODM.
“We are not chasing him from anywhere. He is running away from his shadow,” he said.
Junet said Ruto voluntarily left URP, UDM, KANU and ODM.
Speaking in Mombasa on Sunday, Ruto claimed Raila and ODM are using the handshake with President Uhuru Kenyatta to scuttle Jubilee’s succession plans.
He claimed Raila chased him away from ODM and has now followed him to Jubilee to do the same.
“What we won’t entertain, and what is not going to happen is for you to export confusion, propaganda and conmanship into our government or our party,” Ruto said.