In what many consider as a veiled attack at his deputy, President Uhuru Kenyatta’s recent rant reveals a man who has lost his influence over leaders from Mt Kenya region.
He tried to remind them that he was the one who helped them get elected to the offices they currently occupy.
President Uhuru went ahead to tell the renegade leaders that he would ‘crush them.’ At the centre of the president’s source of worry is Dr William Ruto. In a bid to marshal support in readiness for 2022 battle, Members of Parliament from the Mt Kenya region earned the ire of the president.
As the Jubilee Party leader, Uhuru feels that his grip and influence over the members from his party is loosening. The reins of the party seemed to be firmly in the hands of Dr Ruto.
This is a clear sign that the DP has overstepped his mandate, breaking one fundamental law of power – do not outshine the master. He has been ‘campaigning’ left, right and centre, poaching MPs from the opposition, and has already recruited foot soldiers who he hopes would provide enough firepower to propel him to the top seat.
As Uhuru struggles to leave a legacy, he feels like there are some people within the Jubilee Party camp out to sabotage his vision. As a consequence, he feels that leaders who should help him implement the Big 4 agenda are busy campaigning.
It is without a doubt that DP Ruto has set his eyes on the top seat, and he will do anything to get there. As a man with brain, he knows that support from the president come 2022 is not guaranteed. He knows too well that the seat will not be handed to him the way ‘peremende’ is handed to children. He has to fight for it tooth and nail.
Ruto's forays to enlist the support of leaders close to the people has made him step on the toes of the big man. His influence has grown to a point that the president has to remind people that he can bite.
Anybody whose brain cells are still functioning knows that DP Ruto is a formidable opponent come 2022. You cannot dismiss him anymore as a son of a peasant. Those days are long gone. you are now dealing with a man who has made his bones, and it will be a bruising battle for those who think they can push him aside.