Plans are underway to revamp Isaac Ruto owned Chama Cha Mashinani as an alternative vehicle for Deputy President William Ruto's 2022 bid, reports the Sunday Nation.
On Thursday, an irked president Uhuru Kenyatta yet again gave an indication that Ruto could not be his automatic pick in Jubilee, further throwing the latter into shambles.
“Some people think that just because I am retiring, I have nothing to say. I will say something at the right time. And some people will get shocked,” President Kenyatta said in Nyeri, a statement that sent jitters in Mr Ruto’s corner.
But when Uhuru was firing shots at Mt Kenya, a group of Ruto's ally convened in Chepalungu, the home of the former Bomet governor where the idea of the DP taking over CCM was widely discussed.
Governors Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu), Paul Chepkwony (Kericho), Samwel Tunai (Narok), John Lonyangapuo (West Pokot), and Kericho Senator Haroun Cheruiyot held three separate meetings at the CCM party leader's home.
Chepalungu MP Gideon Koskei (CCM), Mr Farouk Kibet (an aide to the Deputy President), 11 CCM Members of County Assembly and the party’s former aspirants for various positions in the last General Election also attended the meeting.
“It is true we want CCM to be spruced up to have a national outlook,” said a top party official who did not want to be named.
He added that the plan was not for CCM to be taken over, but it would be “supported” in the next few years just in case things fell apart in Jubilee.https://mobile.nation.co.ke/news/politics/No-longer-at-ease--Rift-Valley-in-fresh-plan/3126390-4835732-item-1-522ufn/index.html
When contacted for comment, Isaac Ruto could not reveal details of the meeting but insisted that CCM is ready to work with like minded parties to strengthen devolution.
"Our idea is to strengthen devolution. That's the philosophy of the party and we shall work with like minded people to achieve that," he said.
Despite President Uhuru Kenyatta's close working relationship with the DP in the last six years, the closeness seems to be diminishing ever since the former reconciled with opposition leader Raila Odinga.
On Thursday, Uhuru blocked My Kenya MPs from what he termed as 'loitering', a narrative associated with the DP.