The war of words and 2022 succession politics has reigned the Kenyan political air since the March 9 famed handshake but the motives of the shake remains unclear with many attacking the former premier of an hidden agenda.
Deputy President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga are engaged in an escalated war of words that centers on President Uhuru Kenyatta’s succession.
The President is serving his second and final term. As per the 2013 Jubilee agreement, Ruto should be his successor but since the handshake between Uhuru and Raila on March 9 last year, there has been tension and suspicion between the two camps.
Uhuru has kept the country guessing on his preferred candidate in 2022, sending mixed signals every time he is seen in public with Ruto or Raila.
Ruto’s camp has been silent in the hope that things would change but last week, they exploded and dared Uhuru to declare his support for Raila.
Yesterday, Kiambu Governor Ferdinard Waititu sought to assure supporters of the DP that all is well and that Uhuru will honour his 2013 promise.
He said the propaganda that there is bad blood between Uhuru and Ruto is being propagated by “brokers and conmen” with no constituency.
Waititu said Jubilee’s development plans would not be disrupted by outsiders who have no interest of wananchi at heart.
He said Mt Kenya would rally behind Ruto in 2022 because of his strong track record.
Initially, the feud between Ruto and the former Prime Minister was over the push for a referendum on the Constitution but that has been pushed to the back burner. The issue now is the role of the handshake in the renewed campaign to end corruption.
The DP’s camp is of the opinion that Uhuru and Raila have conspired to use the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Director of Public Prosecutions to carry out predetermined arrest and prosecution of perceived Ruto associates.
Over the weekend, the DP and his lieutenants were in Kericho county firing salvos at Raila whom they accused of using propaganda to derail the Jubilee development agenda.
“Our development plans cannot be crippled by selfish leaders. Our legacy will be guarded,” Ruto said.
The DP affirmed that the war on corruption will be intensified but warned that it should not be political or tribal.
More than 15 MPs who accompanied Ruto at a prayer service in Ainamoi constituency called on DCI Goerge Kinoti to desist from politicising the war on corruption.
They said Kinoti’s office was being manipulated by criminals and politicians to further their own political agendas.
Leaders present were Energy CS Charles Keter, Bomet Senator Christopher Lang’at, MPs Sylvanus Maritim (Ainamoi), Joseph Limo (Kipkelion East), Hillary Kosgei (Kipkelion West), Nelson Koech (Belgut), Dominic Kosgei (Sotik), Kipsengeret Koros (Sigowet/Soin), Florence Koskey (Woman Representative, Kericho) and Tecla Tum (Woman Representative, Nandi).
Others were William Kisang (Marakwet West), George Sunkuiya (Kajiado West), Caleb Kositany (Soy), Charles Nguna (Mwingi West), Githua Wamachukuru (Kabete) and Marwa Kitayama (Kuria East).
Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen said it was clear the war on corruption targeted only certain communities.
“We support the war on corruption but it should not be used to undermine development. When will we talk about the Big Four? We must revisit this fight against corruption,” Murkomen said.
He was supported by his Kericho counterpart Aaron Cheruiyot who argued that whatever the DCI is doing in the name of fighting corruption is wrong.
“He is being used by power brokers to profile communities through selective arrest. He is not worth being a public officer,” Cheruiyot said.
Koech said the DCI should remain professional and divorce himself from the 2022 succession politics. He said the corruption war should not weaponised.
“We support the fight on graft. But we must respect the Constitution and let the EACC do its job. If it is a must that DCI does that, then it is time the EACC was wound up,” Koech said.
In Kiambu, an anti-Ruto team accused the DP of not supporting the war on corruption and that he was unfit to ascend to power in 2022.
Led by nominated MP Maina Kamanda who fell out with Ruto after the Jubilee primaries in 2017, the 12 legislators yesterday vowed to block the DP from succeeding President Kenyatta.
They alleged that he has hired a group of Jubilee legislators to slow down the investigations being carried out by the DCI and the DPP.
Kamanda lashed out at Ruto, saying the MPs mostly from Rift Valley and Central question blindly how corruption investigations are done.
“When you water down the investigation on corruption in front of people, you think people who support the war on corruption started by Uhuru will hear that?” the former Starehe MP said.
He spoke at Joy Celebration Centre church in Ngarariga village in Limuru constituency in Kiambu.
He was accompanied by MPs Peter Mwathi (Limuru), Joshua Kutuny (Cherangany), Robert Mbui (Kathiani), Mercy Gakuya (Kasarani), Sam Atandi (Alego Usoga) and Maoka Maore (Igembe North).
Others were Caleb Khamisi (Saboti), Antony Oluoch (Mathare), Paul Koinange (Kiambaa), Ngunjiri Wambugu (Nyeri Town) and nominated Godfrey Osotsi from Vihiga county.
The MPs dared the DP to resign since he has no respect for the President, saying his allies dismissed the handshake between Kenyatta and Raila.
Oluoch said Ruto should resign immediately because of his approach to the handshake and corruption issues.
“The DP and his people do not support the war on corruption and the handshake. They keep dismissing Raila’s presence in government. We all know the fruits it brought to this country,” the ODM legislator said.
“They claim Raila came to bring division in Jubilee, which is very wrong,” Oluoch added.
On Saturday, Maore dismissed those who are attacking Raila as hypocritical.
He spoke during the requiem mass for Rev Josphat Kalunge, Pastor Henry Nkunja and Benjamin Kaberia, three of the six people killed by thugs on March 5.
The legislator said those who have launched a scathing attack on Raila and DCI boss George Kinoti are indirectly attacking Uhuru.
“When you hear those two names we know they are attacking the President because of the handshake and willingness to fight graft. You cannot abuse the President. He is the pillar of all the instruments of state,” Maore said.
The lawmaker said Jubilee supporters should not back leaders who insult the head of state and urged Ruto to tame his lieutenants.
“We don’t want any insults on the office and institution of the Presidency especially from individuals who have sworn the oath of office to defend the Constitution. Elections will come and go but institutions need to be there to hold the country together,” he said.
Gatanga MP Joseph Nduati said a political partnership between Jubilee and ODM parties in the 2022 general election will stabilise the economy.
He threw his weight behind the proposal of a merger by Senate Minority Leader James Orengo, saying it will further unite the country.
Orengo has, however, said he was misquoted. But Nduati said such a coalition would be good for the country judging from the achievements of the handshake.
“Since the handshake, the economy and politics of the country have changed for the better,” Nduati said.
The legislator pointed out that such a partnership would help wipe out tribal politics and enable the next government to make the right strides.
“Raila is a very good man when he decides to work and when Central and Nyanza regions come together, the country is able to move forward,” he said.
The problem, he added, now remains with one part of the Jubilee Party that has been rising against the President.
Nduati said those who refuse to support the President should be thrown out of the party, adding that members should speak in one voice.
“The jubilee house is big enough to accommodate anyone that is likeminded and those who support the President are the ones we will consider in 2022,” he said.