The world has just ushered in the new year 2019, which on Kenya’s side politics seem to dominate the whole year! As different leaders send messages of goodwill Kenyans, Deputy President William Ruto’s allies found a platform to respond to his statehouse road barricaders.
They on Monday hit back at those seeking to block him from succeeding President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2022, saying his march to State House is unstoppable.
The DP’s allies chose a bull fighting event at Malinya grounds in Kakamega County to fire a New Year warning after a section of Jubilee leaders, led by vice chairman David Murathe, last week asked Dr Ruto to retire with President Kenyatta.
While at the Maragoli cultural festival at Mbale, Vihiga County, last Friday, Mr Murathe also rubbished a pact that ushered Jubilee to power in 2013 as one between the DP and Mr Kenyatta, saying Central Kenya would not automatically support Dr Ruto in 2022.
Central Kenya leaders have since called for Jubilee Party elections with a view to oust Mr Murathe and address simmering fissures over the succession.
On Monday, Dr Ruto listened studiously as Senate Majority leader Kipchumba Murkomen led other lawmakers and former Kakamega Senator Bonni Khalwale in vouching for his presidency, saying it would guarantee peace and transfer of power to a son of an ordinary Kenyan. Dr Ruto did not comment on the succession debate.
Mr Murkomen accused some unnamed people of sowing discord in the Jubilee Party and used Lucky Dube’s lyrics ‘Nobody can stop Reggae’ as a parallel for Dr Ruto’s quest for the presidency.
“The next election will be a defining moment when Kenya will be ruled by a son of a local farmer who was never in government leadership,” he said.
The next story has been politically framed as a contest between dynasties and hustlers, an axis pitting those who have been in power and those who have not been.
He said people can change their narratives about the presidency and the pre-election pact but they cannot stop Dr Ruto from succeeding President Kenyatta.
He said since Mr Kenyatta and Dr Ruto came together, there has been tranquillity between the Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities in the Rift Valley who had been used to conflicts every election year.