Outspoken National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale may have after all ditched Deputy President William Ruto, even as President Uhuru Kenyatta's succession battle takes shape.
For months now, Mr Duale, a staunch supporter of the DP, is yet to share podium with Dr Ruto. The DP has been traversing the country, and since Thursday, he has been at the coast.
On Friday, Duale was in the delegation of EAC minister Adan Mohammed, which visited Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang'i's office to discuss North Eastern region development agenda.
Dr Matiang'i, who was recently elevated by President Uhuru Kenyatta to chair government projects delivery, has been on the DP's wrong books.
"As part of GoK's routine engagement with various stakeholders to spur productivity growth in Kenya, my colleague @AdanMohamedCS & I met elected leaders from N. Eastern to deliberate implementation of projects & programmes in the region, including those under the Big 4 Agenda," Matiang'i tweeted.
Early this week, Mr Duale seemed to be reading a different script from Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichungwah, a close ally of Deputy President William Ruto.
In a heated session, Duale accused Ichungwah of sneaking in Tanga Tanga agenda on the floor of the house. Tanga Tanga is a team of leaders allied to Dr Ruto.
"What we have on tge floor of the house is Public Finance Management 2019 Bill. But what we are hearing is Tanga Tanga. I have no problem with Tangatanga outside this house. I might be part of the team.
"But when we are coming to the house, we are discussing about the group. And this is the man who made Nyoro to be arrested. And this is the man recruiting people everyday," Duale said.
Already, the Garissa Town MP, who has been Ruto's closest ally from the Northern Frontier Districts, has backed introduction of parliamentary system of government, a move opposed by Ruto.
The DP has been accusing opposition leader Raila Odinga of plotting to expand executive through constitutional changes, arguing that the country does not need a referendum.
"We as members of the pastoral community want to tell our Kenyan brothers to let's embrace a parliamentary system for Kenya to be led by a Prime Minister," the National Assembly majority leader said
Duale's deputy Jimmy Angwenyi, recently joined the handshake team after months of antagonising Mr Odinga. He met the ODM leader last Wednesday at Capitol Hill offices.