Deputy President William Ruto has been cautioned against ruling President Uhuru Kenyatta out of the 2022 presidential race.
Already, the DP has declared interest in succeeding Uhuru, who is expected to retire after completing his second and final term.
But according to former Subukia MP Koigi Wa Wamwere's analysis, chances are high that Uhuru might use the looming referendum to remove the presidential term limit.
He says that Ruto could have shot himself at the foot by dropping his initial opposition to a referendum, as though he thinks it will work to his advantage, it might victimize him.
"Ruto has forgotten that in case of changes, he might not be alone but might have to battle Uhuru. (Ruto amesahau kama mambo yatabadilika huenda hatakuwa pekee yake huenda akamenyana na Uhuru)," Koigi said on Radio Sauti ya Mwananchi on Saturday.
According to the veteran politician, Ruto accepted the changes so as to impress the president, hoping that this way, he (Uhuru) will stick to him, leaving him the Jubilee Party.
He said that with the already established ruling party under him, Ruto thinks that he will have it easier, with the only challenge he can think of being ODM leader Raila Odinga, who as things appear, he can beat.
"Ruto wants to remain with Jubilee all for himself. The only rival he sees is Raila, who opinion polls say he would beat. (Ruto anataka abaki na Jubilee akiwa pekee yake, anaona mtu tu mwenye watamenyana naye ni Raila, ambaye opinion poll zinasema anaweza kumshinda)," he added.
The former MP said that it would be unrealistic to expect Uhuru to willingly retire when his colleagues across the region are being seen amending constitutions to prolong their tenures.
He was referring to presidents Paul Kagame (Rwanda) and Yoweri Museveni (Uganda).