A late night phone call by DP William Ruto on Wednesday after all saved Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen from a possible ouster as Rift Valley Parliamentary caucus chair, a source has revealed.
Prior to the meeting, a group of moderate MPs led by Cherangany's Joshua Kutuny had finalised plot to remove Murkomen, who they accused of being a liability.
"Murkomen is doing harm to Ruto's 2022 chances. He is a liability and we shall do away with him. When he speaks, he spoils votes for the DP," Kutuny had said.
So divisive was Ruto's camp that they called an urgent meeting on Wednesday night at Weston Hotel to discuss his conduct.
But a close ally of the DP who owns joint businesses with him, reveals that Ruto had to make a 10 minutes call to Kutuny convincing him to drop the idea.
"When the meeting started, there were accusations and counter accusations. In fact, Kutuny had done enough ground work and Mukomen was losing.
"But I heard the DP calling Kutuny explaining to him dangers of removing Murkomen. Thereafter, moderate lawmakers dropped the idea," said the source.
A faction led by Murkomen has directly faulted President Uhuru Kenyatta of allegedly plotting to block DP from ascending to power in 2022.
But Kutuny's camp has often termed Murkomen as a 'reckless leader' adding that the DP is a 'brand' on his own and can maneuver without someone's help.