Deputy President William Ruto’s camp has been thrown into a panic following Kieleweke proposal to craft a coalition between Uhuru faction of Jubilee and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ahead of the 2022 general election.
The proposal puts Ruto in an awkward position as it comes two months after he ruled out any chances of a merger between the two parties terming it impossible “now or in the future as the two parties’ manifestos and democratic principles are poles apart.”
The panic is fueled by what Tanga tanga MPs call a deliberate failure by President Kenyatta to convene a Parliamentary Group meeting since the last general election in what has made MPs read from different scripts on national issues.
Nominated MP Maina Kamanda, Gatanga MP Nduati Ngugi and former MP Kabando wa Kabando have hinted that a merger ahead of 2022 which would politically bring together President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in what is seen as a further isolation of the DP.
Ruto allied Mps have claimed should the marriage take place, they insist that they would not bolt out of the party should the merger be pushed through, but would remain and fight from within.
Kipkelion West MP Hillary Koskei and his Belgut counterpart Mr Nelson Koech said allies of the DP and his supporters would not leave Jubilee despite a clear indication of a fall-out in the party ahead of the next election.
“We are a key plank in Jubilee having folded the United Republican Party (URP) alongside The National Alliance (TNA) party and others to form a coalition with a clear development agenda and succession plan which we have no intention of abandoning,” said Mr Koech.
What emerges clearly is that the DP’s allies are not ready to engage in a coalition with Mr Odinga owing to their previous experience with him and the fall-out in ODM ahead of the formation of URP and subsequently Jubilee.
“Mr Odinga is a hypocrite who only thrives on crisis but has nothing tangible to offer the country,” said Bomet MP Mr Ronald Tonui.
Mr Tonui said Dr Ruto did not need an endorsement from the country’s political bigwigs to ascend to the presidency as he had the support of the masses.
The MPs also fear being irrelevant in a new outfit: “Entering into a coalition with ODM would result in the natural but unfortunate death of Jubilee party and would negate the economic achievements realized under President Kenyatta’s leadership,” said Mr Ainamoi MP Sylvanus Maritim.