DP Ruto's big mistake that could cost Uhuru Presidency

dennis kibet

May 26, 2017 11:10 AM

A quiet and simmering internal rebellion is brewing across Central Kenya.

Governor aspirants Peter Kenneth (Nairobi), William Kabogo (Kiambu) during the launch of Kenya Independent Candidates Association launch at Kasarani gymnasium, Saturday, May 20, 2017.

A quiet and simmering internal rebellion is brewing across Central Kenya with Deputy President William Ruto being at the epicentre.

Reports have emerged on how Ruto has allegedly been identified as the unseen hand that influenced the recently concluded Jubilee primaries ahead of the titanic contest between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Nasa's Raila Odinga.

According to a report by The Star, leading politicians from the Mount Kenya region say that Ruto edged or muscled them and others out in favour of his own line-up with his eye firmly on his own presidential bid in 2022.

Alarms bell started ringing when President Kenyatta gave his deputy the the all powerful role to take oversee the repeat of nationwide Jubilee primaries following a chaotic nominations exercise that saw the entire process called off.

However Ruto maintained that the nominations were free and fair and the will of the people prevailed and that they had spoken.

On Thursday, Senator Paul Njoroge hit out at Ruto and accused him of locking out Central and Rift Valley politicians whom he perceives to oppose his 2022 presidential ambitions.

In a bare-knuckled statement, Njoroge told Ruto that Central Kenya was rethinking its decision to support him in 2022.

The statement is similar to that one Kiambu Governor William Kabogo made earlier last year warning Ruto that he must renegotiate his deal with the Kikuyu community if he wants its support in 2022.

Kabogo and Nairobi gubernatorial aspirant Peter Kenneth stopped just short of naming Ruto as person behind their nomination defeats.

They have since quit the Jubilee Party and are running as independents.

The losers of the Jubilee nominations across Central and the Rift Valley have joined forces under the banner of Kenya Association of Independent Candidates (KAIC).

Some of those under KAIC include former Naivasha MP John Mututho, Tetu MP Ndungu Githinji, Kabogo, Kenneth, Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua among other leading lights.

Mututho warned that if Jubilee mistreats independents, its national appeal will dwindle drastically after the polls.

dennis kibet