As 2022 general elections are drawing near, succession politics have started taking shape. Deputy President William Ruto, the supposed natural successor of President Uhuru Kenyatta as per 2013 pre-election agreement and his allies believe the president might shortchange him.
This is as a result of an escalating rift between Ruto and Kenyatta thanks to the handshake. Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to exit political office during the country's general elections in 2022.
Uhuru Kenyatta's succession politics are starting to show similarities with his father Jomo Kenyatta's succession politics.
With the deteriorating health of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, his close allies popularly known as "Kiambu Mafias" orchestrated for constitution changes in the 1970's so that the vice president can not automatically become the president upon the death of president.
This was aimed at shattering the chances of Daniel Moi from taking the presidential seat in case Mzee Jomo Kenyatta died while in office.These "Kiambu Mafias" wanted power to remain within Central Kenya region.
Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) formed immediately after handshake between Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga has elicited political temperatures in the country.
BBI implementation body is made up of both Uhuru and Raila's circle of confidants.This body is supposed to come up with suggestions on areas in the constitution that need to be changed to create "all inclusive" future government devoid of cycles of violence that always manifest themselves every elective year.
However, the Deputy President William Ruto and his allies believe that BBI has been hijacked by selfish, power-hungry members to revive their political strategies and remain in government dubiously.
Ruto has many times expressed the confusion BBI has brought in implementation of Jubilee government's Big four agendas. Ruto's remarks and ideologies have however elicited a heated argument and criticism from Uhuru and Raila's confidants who have always poked holes on Ruto's presidential ambitions.This has further divided Jubilee house.
William Ruto's allies believe that the BBI movement was meant to ruin the relationship between Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto and shatter Ruto's presidential dreams.
Ruto has since resorted to making inroads at the grassroots by launching development projects.
The push for constitutional changes by "Kiambu Mafias" four decades ago was followed by deaths, house arrests and political casualties. Despite the high resistance against Daniel Moi's ascension to presidency, Moi outshined them and established one of the strongest and longest serving government in Kenya.Will history repeat itself? Only time will tell.