President Uhuru Kenyatta's conduct regarding the Kibra by-elections was a demonstration of his fight with his deputy William Ruto, political analyst Mwangi Njui has said.
Despite his Jubilee party fronting McDonald Mariga, Uhuru appears to have dropped him immediately after the first endorsement, and never campaigned for him in any way.
This, according to the Nakuru-based commentator, also has everything to do with claims that Mariga was Ruto's project.
He observes that in line with the said widening rift between the Uhuru and Ruto camps, Uhuru decided to drop Mariga immediately after Ruto's Tangatanga team took over his campaigns, and proceeded to use it as a punishment.
"After being endorsed by Uhuru, Mariga was unfortunately taken over by Tangatanga, which saw Uhuru drop him (Mariga alipovalishwa kofia na Uhuru, kwa bahati mbaya alichukuliwa na Tangatanga, Rais naye akawaachia)," he said.
Njui made the remarks in an interview on Radio Sauti Ya Mwananchi's Cheche, also attended by former Subukia lawmaker and veteran politician Koigi Wa Wamwere, on Saturday evening.
He observed that Uhuru might have withdrawn his support for Mariga after he was branded a Tangatanga project.
He added that there could be more plans to deal with the group, which has been appearing disobedient to the president.
"This was the first stroke of the cane for Tangatanga, not Mariga, and I see more coming (Hii ilikuwa kiboko ya kwanza, sio kwa Mariga bali kwa Tangatanga, na naona zingine zikija)," he added.
It is worth noting that the team has dishonoured Uhuru's calls for political calm, with some openly endorsing Ruto's 2022 presidential ambitions.
Some Ruto allies like Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi have even openly attacked Uhuru for refusing to reassure them that he will support the DP's 2022 bid, hence the said widening rift between them.