Renowned social and political commentator Barack Muluka has claimed that the vicious attacks that Deputy President William Ruto has been launching at Raila Odinga are actually meant for President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Speaking on Tuesday in a wide-ranging panel discussion on NTV's 'Sidebar' program, the Amani National Congress (ANC) secretary general contended that the DP lacked the courage to attack the president directly.
"These blows which Deputy President William Ruto is throwing around rather liberally at the ODM leader are actually proxy blows, they are blows that are actually intended for President Uhuru Kenyatta, " Barack Muluka said.
Muluka went on to add that the deputy president's blows were being driven by an excessive appetite for power.
The commentator's remarks add to speculation that there are tensions between the president and his deputy.
A few weeks ago President Uhuru tore at DP Ruto's allies from Central Kenya for moving around the country engaging in politics at the expense of working for those who elected them.
DP Ruto has in scores of rallies fired salvos at Raila Odinga branding the veteran opposition leader the lord of poverty.
Ruto and Raila were political allies but fell out in the lead up to the 2013 presidential elections over the Mau Forest evictions which Ruto strongly opposed then.