Bahati Member of Parliament Kimani Ngunjiri has defended Deputy President William Ruto from attacks from his critics, who have been accusing him of engaging in early campaigns.
A section of politicians from the opposition and the Kieleweke faction of the Jubilee party have been accusing Ruto of drumming up support for his 2022 presidential bid, in defiance to President Uhuru Kenyatta's directive against early politicking.
However, Ngunjiri, who on Monday admitted that the DP has indeed been campaigning, said that it is within his rights to do so, as he is a politician whose main job is to politick.
He said that everybody in the political scene is politicking, including Uhuru, who recently convened an Mt Kenya caucus meeting to whip area politicians into backing his ideologies.
"We were elected to politick and not to preach. When Uhuru summoned us was he not politicking? When Kisiis endorse Matiang'i (Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i) is that not politicking? Everybody is politicking. (We were elected kupiga siasa, sio kuhubiri, Uhuru alipotuita juzi was he not politicking? Wakisii wakisema Matiangi awe rais is that not politicking? Hakuna mtu hapigi siasa" the MP posed during an interview on Radio Maisha.
About the division being witnessed in the Jubilee Party, he said that the party is only experiencing a situation where people are having diverse opinions.
He added that the same is very normal during succession politics which is the case now, where Uhuru is approaching his retirement and Ruto is keen on succeeding him.
The Bahati MP further pointed out that such should be expected until 2022 when people will openly pick their preferred sides.
"This is normal in politics, there must be some slight division during succession politics (Hii ni normal in politics, lazima kuwe ba division kidogo wakati wa succession politics)," Kimani Ngunjiri added.
While some Jubilee politicians have openly said that they will support Ruto, a section of others have hinted at working with ODM leader Raila Odinga while others have remained silent.