Former Statehouse Operative Nancy Gitau has lately turned into the punching bag for forces allied to Deputy President William Ruto, some of whom have accused her of playing being part of the group out to frustrate Ruto's presidential bid.
Always working behind the scenes, and described as media shy but super powerful ally of President Uhuru Kenyatta, initially of retired President Mwai Kibaki, Gitau is ranked among the persons who made Uhuru president.
Despite having resigned from the position, so powerful and influential is she within Uhuru's government that Principal Secretaries still reach out to her regularly for advice.
She is also said to be the power behind Uhuru's 2017 reelection, and at the same time one of the strongest forces behind the formation and operations of the anti-Ruto Kieleweke faction of the Jubilee Party.
This has been pointed out by Kapseret MP and Ruto ally Oscar Sudi who weeks ago accused her of fighting the DP, remarks that were rubbished almost immediately by ex-presidential advisor and Cherangany MP Joshua Kuttuny.
“Time has come for these leaders to give Nancy respect. This is not the first time they are attacking her. They are jealous of her organisational skills.
They should give her a break. These attacks demonstrate the fact that they are running short of ideas,” he is quoted by the Sunday Nation.
The deeply private force is said to be among deep state members deeply opposed to Ruto's presidential ambitions.
The bad blood began in 2015 when she was included in the list of people who allegedly framed Ruto at the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the 2017/2018 psot election clashes.
Her name was mentioned by then Kericho senator and current Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter and Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen.