The simmering rebellion against Deputy President William Ruto in Central Kenya seems to be gathering momentum after top leaders from the region openly accused him of sponsoring attacks against President Uhuru Kenyatta.
A number of lawmakers from the region have in the recent days had ugly altercation with Uhuru over what they claimed is systematic starving of the area which overwhelmingly voted for him in both 2013 and 2017 polls.
Yesterday former Presidential candidate and Justice minister Martha Karua launched a scathing attack on Ruto accusing him of using proxies to clandestinely throw tantrums at the President.
“The DP is throwing punches using the shield of his supporters. He cannot distance himself from his supporters,” the Narc Kenya Party leader said during a morning TV show.
A group of leaders from Mt. Kenya calling themselves the future of the region also declared war on Ruto and vowed to ignore the DP’s sympathizers and instead “go for the owner of the dog”.
But Ruto through his Communication Secretary David Mugonyi dismissed his accusers as busy bodies seeking relevance after being rejected by voters in the last election.
“There are a few who want to twist this matter for cheap political gain to remain relevant. The Deputy President respects and is loyal to his boss, the President. Any other view from political brokers should be treated with contempt,”Mugonyi said.
But the Mount Kenya leaders declared they owe no one any political debt and will cast their votes to whoever will give them the best deal in 2022.
While coming together in 2013, Ruto agreed to play second fiddle to Uhuru with the President pledging to back his deputy for the country’s top job after his ten year term.
But the 18 leaders led by Karua and former presidential candidates Peter Kenneth distanced the region from such a deal maintaining no one is entitled to the support of the vote-rich Mt. Kenya.
In what appears to be shifting realignment in the region, Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu who had been one of Ruto’s point men in the region joined the pro-Uhuru team declaring an all out war on the DP and his men.
“Anybody is entitled to seek any seat he or she wants. Nobody is the presumptive president in 2022. Nobody is entitled to presidency from any quarters and Kenya is bigger than any two communities, ” Karua said during a press conference at Serena Hotel.