Is President Uhuru Kenyatta secretly grooming Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka to succeed him after his term expires in 2022? Some leaders who attended a closed-door meeting on Tuesday called by Musyoka at his Yatta farm believe the former vice-president might be Kenyatta’s chosen successor.
The leaders are convinced Kalonzo “ranks high” in Kenyatta’s succession game-plan, and might be chosen as the presidential candidate or the running mate for Kenyatta’s preferred candidate.
They claim the Central Kenya “power base” seems to have warmed up to Kalonzo after his decision to join hands with Kenyatta.Although ODM leader Raila Odinga “joined” the Government earlier than Kalonzo through a handshake deal with the president, Kalonzo allies say Odinga was brought in to “manage” Deputy President William Ruto and scuttle his presidential efforts.
The Wiper Party insiders claim once Odinga accomplishes this task, it will be possible for the President and his men to smoothly execute his succession plan.The presence of David Murathe, the former vice-chairman of Jubilee party during the Yatta meeting was quite telling.
Murathe styles himself as a man who communicates the President’s mind and his feelings, although some even in Jubilee have dismissed him as a rabble-rouser.
He is, however, a revered power broker.In a calculated speech, Murathe narrated the political history between the Kamba and Kikuyu communities, dating back to first President Jomo Kenyatta and Kamba kingpin at the time Paul Ngei.
He said he had been “sent” to gauge whether or not the community was united or whether the bickering caused by rebel governors Kivutha Kibwana (Makueni), Alfred Mutua (Machakos) and Charity Ngilu (Kitui) had fractured Kalonzo’s hold in his backyard.