Two years to the 2022 General Election, the political temparatures in the country have already flared as leadership aspirants, especially those eying the presidential position, align themselves into rival teams ahead of the poll.
Already, casualties have been suffered from the thunderous fallout within the ruling Jubilee Party, especially on Deputy William Ruto’s part.
This is after President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday ousted Ruto’s Central Kenya’s footsoldier, Mwangi Kiunjuri, from the Agriculture Ministry leadership position.
It would soon emerge on Tuesday that Kiunjuri’s axing was just the beginning of a gloves-off battle between Uhuru and Ruto, politically.
Hours after Kiunjuri’s termination was announced, it emerged that friends of Ruto were locked out of Uhuru’s event in Nakuru, where the president issued title deeds to freedom fighters.
Among those barred from entering the meeting venue was Nakuru senator Susan Kihika.
The events over the past 24 hours have been interpreted by Ruto’s Tangatanga faction as a flexing-of-muscles move by ODM leader Raila Odinga, who has successfully managed to tear apart the once happily married Jubilee family.
According to Ruto’s close ally, Elgeyo Marakwet senator Kipchumba Murkomen, Raila is now fully in control of the president’s affairs, and is the one calling the shots especially when it comes to handling Ruto and his friends.
Murkomen consoled Kihika and other Tangatanga lawmakers who were badly humiliated after Tuesday’s lockout, poking mockery into Raila and Uhuru’s Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).
My friend @susankihika you need a bridge to cross over to the meeting. And If you want to get a seat at the BBI table you need to ask Tinga and his MPs for their yellow notes. Do something ! pic.twitter.com/ykOCSirai0
— KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN, E.G.H (@kipmurkomen) January 14, 2020
The legislator bitterly noted that as of now, accessing any presidential forums requires approval from the ODM leader.