President Uhuru Kenyatta has heightened his campaign against his deputy William Ruto, with his allies hinting that he would form an alliance geared to block him from ascending to State House.
Insiders told the People Daily that Uhuru plans to take full charge of the governing Jubilee Party and will directly campaign for his successor.
In the coming days, the President is expected to be more aggressive and intends to retreat to his Central Kenya backyard, to tame Ruto’s allies who have been campaigning against the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), which he spearheads with ODM leader Raila Odinga.
For the first time, the President on Saturday asked Ruto to resign for his continued criticism of the government, which he serves in. However, the deputy has vowed to stay put, saying he was elected on his own merit.
Jubilee Party vice-chairman David Murathe and Nominated MP Maina Kamanda said the President would continue the purge on Ruto’s allies and has mobilised the State bureaucracy to implement his legacy projects in a manner that circumvents his deputy.
Already, the President has directed Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries, to get out of their offices and supervise government projects, with contractors warned they will be kicked out if they don’t complete work by June.
The President has declared he will not leave the country to thieves eliciting strong reactions from Ruto’s camp. According to Murathe, President Uhuru and Raila have an “earth-shaking” weapon against Ruto.
“The two BBI principals have kept their cards close to their chest but the weapon they have is earth-shaking. But now they want to concentrate on BBI. After BBI, the President will start mingling with the people,” Murathe told the People Daily.
“The President’s utterances that he will not leave the country in the hand of thieves was an indication that he was keen to leave the country in safe hands. He did not mention anyone but the guilty are afraid. Uhuru and Raila got into the BBI race to win and not to lose,” said Murathe; a strong Uhuru ally who has declared that Ruto is unfit for the presidency.
Open attacks Kamanda said Uhuru and Raila would form a national alliance comprising leaders, who are supportive of the BBI, that they will use to mobilise against a Ruto presidency.
“Unlike retired President Mwai Kibaki who did not endorse a candidate, Uhuru will directly campaign for the person he wants to inherit his presidency,” said Kamanda “There will be a BBI alliance that involves Raila, Musalia Mudavadi, Gideon Moi, Kalonzo Musyoka, Moses Wetangula and other like-minded politicians to tame Ruto in 2022,” noted Kamanda.
The President has for the past week sustained open attacks against his deputy. He has painted Ruto, who opposes the BBI project, as a dishonest leader, who has been lying to wananchi as well as taking credit for Uhuru projects. County assemblies in Ruto’s backyard have already indicated that they will shoot down the BBI Bill.
Uhuru, a fortnight ago, took to vernacular stations and warned his Mt Kenya backyard against proponents of the BBI. He said BBI will address the anxieties of the region about its future after he retires in 2022.
Among other things, the Constitutional Amendment Bill (2010) which captures the BBI project has proposed an expanded Executive, that will result in creation of the position of a prime minister with two deputies.
“It is a good sign that the President is coming out clearly to say something about his succession. He has always been quiet, leaving people to speculate. He has said he has an obligation to leave the country in a safe pair of hands and not people who cannot be entrusted with public property,” said Kamanda.
“Once we are done with BBI, the President will go around the country to explain why he doesn’t want Kenyans to vote for a certain person. He will soon move to central Kenya to consolidate his base and tell the locals how to vote,” said the nominated MP who signaled the possibility of a strong campaign to unseat Ruto’s allies in central Kenya.
Another high-profile source, who requested anonymity in order to speak freely on the matter told the People Daily, the war against graft will be a major tool.
“The proponents of the BBI are opposed to the suggestion in the document that corruption cases be determined within a year. They are opposed to the proposal because they have a dirty past,” said the source.
On Friday, the President who did not mention Ruto by name but who left no doubt about his target, accused him of criticising the government with one side of his mouth and taking credit for State projects with the other. “If you are praising it (government), stay in, if you are dissatisfied, get out,” Uhuru said.
The President told his deputy that there is only one government that is either failing or succeeding. He also warned against the dynasty vs hustler narrative which is being peddled by the Ruto camp, saying it was calculated to incite a class war.
But speaking on Saturday, Ruto denied claims of undermining the President, saying Uhuru was the final decision maker in the Jubilee administration. “You all know I am a very respectful person.
The President and I campaigned as a team and we formed the Jubilee government. I respect the President and he is the one who makes the final decision in this government,” Ruto said.
He added: “I have never contradicted the President because of the respect I have for him. Even though the work I was supposed to be doing as the deputy is being done by others, I have respected the President on that decision because I want the unity of the country
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