Jubilee has 171 MPs in the National Assembly and it is not clear the ratio of support distributed between the President and his deputy. However, the DP’s support is considered significant only that most, from Mt Kenya region, are fearful of openly offering their support.
Of interest, however, is the fact that the DP controls the leadership of majority in both Houses.
Opponents of Deputy President William Ruto’s 2022 presidential will not just use constitutional arguments.The Mt Kenya region leaders allied to President Uhuru Kenyatta have formed a group known as Mt Kenya and Diaspora Leaders Forum to defend him from perceived rebels gravitating towards Dr Ruto.
The group led by Nominated MP Maina Kamanda says it wants to tame the rebels, dubbed Tanga Tanga team.
This came as Ford-Kenya, whose leaders were initially seen as allies of Dr Ruto, renewed calls on him to retire alongside President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2022.
The position taken by the Moses Wetang’ula-led party contradicts that of his deputy, Dr Boni Khalwale, who has been campaigning for Dr Ruto’s 2022 bid.
Mr Wetang’ula is, however, now leading his party in pushing for Dr Ruto’s retirement, a position also taken by former Jubilee Party vice-chairman David Murathe.
The President has recently denounced those engaging in premature election campaigns, as he focuses on securing his legacy.
“We now have a group that the President can rely on as his directives on premature campaigns have fallen on deaf years. Some of the MPs have been consumed by 2022 politics to the extent of insulting older politicians who have seen it all in politics.
“We shall go around the country reminding the people that President Kenyatta’s term is not yet over and urging leaders to respect him and we shall be naming them,” Mr Kamanda said.