The growing tension in the ruling Jubilee Party has now come to haunt senior Government officials who have found themselves at crossroads with some senior political leaders.
Senior Government officials should not take Politcal sides and as such, they should serve all Kenyans equally. Recently, senior Government officials have had to juggle between trying to please President Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto.
The two leaders who are judged to no longer see eye to eye like before have put Senior Government officials in a Dilemma.
Of concern to many Government officials is the fact that DP William Ruto keeps holding events all across the Country sometimes without even giving them prior information.
They are therefore torn in between attending Ruto’s events or sticking to Uhuru’s Directive that there should be no Politicking until 2022.
For instance, Ruto attended a public meeting in Tetu, Nyeri county, but conspicuously missing were senior county security officials, who would usually accompany him or the President whenever they come calling.
On his Part, Interior PS, Karanja Kibicho, a man who was confronted by Ruto at the airport said the incident in Tetu was caused by poor communication between the Deputy President’s team and local police, who were informed late.
Yesterday, Government Spokesman Colonel (Rtd) Cyrus Oguna denied claims of a rift in State affairs, describing those responsible for such allegations as “individuals out the tarnish the good name of the government”.
“All civil servants are apolitical and serve all leaders irrespective of their ideological leaning. As far as we are concerned, we only have one government headed by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto. Anything else is just sideshows,” he said.
And Ruto’s spokesman David Mugonyi declined to delve into the issue, only stating that there was no bad blood between his boss and civil servants.
But a source in Ruto’s office conceded there was tension between the two offices, and cited cases in Nyeri and recently in Turkana where the local MP publicly complained about the absence of the local administration at the DP’s functions during his three day tour of the region.
“However, the situation seems to have improved last weekend after last week’s confrontation, these people (the local administration) have been boycotting our functions. Let’s wait and see if the same trend will change or continue,” said the source who also sought anonymity.
Last weekend, Turkana North MP John Nakuleu threatened to have the local County Commissioner removed from the area for failing to attend the DP’s functions.
“Kibicho should be told we struggled to form this government he is working for. He should accord us respect we deserve as leaders,’’ Nakuleu warned, adding that he was in a position to shift his allegiance to the neighbouring South Sudan or Ethiopia.
A long serving provincial administrator Joseph Kaguthi says civil servants trying to frustrate Ruto in his forays across the country could be foolish, if they ever did it.
“I am not sure if this can really happen. But if indeed it does, then it is as a result of foolishness on the part of those behind the scheme, or lack of communication in the government. But for the time being, I think, it is simply a perception and not a reality,” said Kaguthi. He said Ruto being a member of the Presidency wields immense powers that no civil servant can dare challenge, considering the hierarchy in the government.
But political commentator Herman Manyora blames the two camps…President Uhuru and Ruto, for the mess.
“First, we must appreciate that Ruto is part of the Presidency, and is not an individual, but an office. All civil servants must respect this protocol. Government protocol cannot be breached because of political expediency,” he said.
On the other hand, Manyora cautions Ruto to respect the same protocol by consulting his boss on all his movements and operations.
“The DP must know that he is a principal assistant to the President and therefore, he cannot be allowed to roam about the country like a wild beast. He must operate without showing defiance or signs of trying to ridicule his boss,” said the don.
Asked why he had taken the drastic move, Kibicho responded; “They have paranoia, which needs to be cured. Let them deal with their accusations and accusers. Let them carry their own cross.’’