Drama ensued at Deputy President William Ruto’s Karen home after he failed to meet delegation of senior Jubilee party MPs, politicians and close aides who had tirelessly campaigned for McDonald Mariga in the Kibra by-election.
Nation reports that a furious DP Ruto, angered by Mariga’s loss in the Kibra contest cancelled all appointments at his Karen home where he was scheduled to meet his aides and analyze the outcome of the by-election.
His aides had assured him of victory or a very tight contest with narrow margin, only to fail to deliver after suffering a humiliating defeat at the hands of ODM’s Bernard Imran Okoth, backed by politicians from across the political divide.
The entourage was on its way to DP Ruto’s posh Karen residence when their journey was cut mid-way with news that the meeting would not take place as planned.
One of his aides divulged that "He (Ruto) feels wasted and drained after the loss. He changed his mind and called to say he'd not be receiving any visitors since it was getting late. He was in a foul mood".
This came as a surprise to the entourage who would wine and dine at the home while strategizing how to win the seat.
The polls brought to the fore the bad blood within Jubilee party with the DP tearing into Jubilee politicians who supported ODM’s candidate in what analysts termed as the most expensive by-election in Kenya’s history.
"We have demonstrated unprecedented resolve in the face of many odds to proudly double our presence in a territory otherwise considered a no go zone and shaming those who betrayed our leader and party," Ruto fired in a thin-veiled attack aimed at Kirinyaga Governor Waiguru, Jubilee Nominated MP Maina Kamanda, Gender CAS Rachael Shebesh among others.
Billed as rehearsals for 2022, DP Ruto went out of his way, pumping in resources and camping in Kibra for several days in a bid to woo voters.
The polls saw him assemble his brigade to raid and take control of Kibra which the ODM party leader Raila Odinga fondly called his bedroom.