Despite showing interest in working with Deputy President William Ruto days after President Uhuru Kenyatta reached out to Raila Odinga, Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula may have changed his stand.
At a funeral in Kakamega on Monday, Wetangula's allies and senior party leaders Dr Eseli Simiyu and Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati openly called for DP Ruto to retire in 2022.
In a candid speech at her sister's funeral, Simiyu, who doubles as party Secretary General and Tongaren MP, said Ruto should prepare to retire jointly with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“Under the Constitution, the presidency is occupied by two people — Mr Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto. When the term expires for the President, it also does for his deputy who should also move out," Dr Simiyu argued as reported by Daily Nation.
On his part, Wangamati added that the "presidency is a joint office. If the president retires, then his deputy should prepare for an exit. This is common sense that we just have to adhere to."
Even as Wetangula and his allies changed the tune, Ford Kenya Deputy Party Leader Bonnie Khalwale has defiantly remained in Ruto's camp.
In the past, the former Kakamega senator has even held meetings across the county in support of Ruto.
The campaigns to lock the DP out of 2022 race were first precipitated by David Murathe, the former Gatanga MP who vowed to ensure the DP retires with his boss, Uhuru Kenyatta.
While the talks continue to dominate in anti-Ruto brigade, it could be technically impossible to block him since article 148 of the constitution only bans the president from running for the third term.