President Uhuru Kenyatta played a major role in cancellation of an interdenominational prayer rally scheduled on Saturday in Murang'a where at least 130 MPs had pledged to attend in solidarity with Deputy President William Ruto, it has now emerged.
On Thursday, office of the deputy president announced cancellation of the event for the second time, associating the latest twist to 'weather conditions' due to ongoing rains in Mt Kenya region.
But with at least 130 MPs confirming attendance, Uhuru is said to have asked Dr Ruto to cancel the rally due to raising political temperatures. While she was not party to organising team, Murang'a Woman Representative Sabina Chege confirmed State House hand in the cancellation.
“Since the meeting could be seen to antagonise President Uhuru Kenyatta, it was postponed to a day that would be communicated. Although there was no such an agenda, people might interpret it in the wrong way,” said Ms Chege.
State House team believed that the rally would focus on politics, which the president has been discouraging for the last few years. In defiance, Dr Ruto and a section of politicians within Jubilee have been leading charm offensive against those allied to the president.
“The President called off the meeting. There was panic within Government over the large number of leaders going for the prayer meeting. The president was in catch-22 and asked the DP to call off the meeting,” claimed the MP.
Kimilili MP Didmas Barasa denied claims that Dr Ruto's team was planning to use the rally to drum up support from the shaky region ahead of 2022 polls.
“None of the leaders was going to talk. It was purely a prayer event. Nevertheless, it was a show of solidarity with the DP and could have been used to know those fully supporting his push for Jubilee agenda or not,” disclosed Baraza.
Although the President is said to have advised against the rally, it is however said that he urged Dr Ruto to continue with his trips to Mt Kenya but not through 'such rallies'. The rally was seen as a wider scheme to undermine Uhuru's influence.
“It was felt that the rally that was supposed to bring together the DP’s supporters in Mt Kenya region would have been seen as an attempt by Ruto to flex his muscles in Uhuru’s home area. He was convinced that this was not the right time for such a rally,” a senator aware of the happenings told The Standard.