Deputy President William Ruto will have to play smart if he is to emerge the winner in his fight with Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i, veteran politician Koigi Wa Wamwere has said.
This comes at a time when Matiang'i, who is considered President Uhuru Kenyatta's Mr Fix it is not in good terms with the DP and his allies thanks to a bad-blood which began recently.
The former Subukia MP says that given that the two are almost coming to the warzone with equal powers, it is upon the DP to play smart to show that he is the senior man.
"Matiang’i is at the heart of the Executive and Ruto is the Deputy President. Ruto, the DP, is a tough guy but he must play smart,” he told the Standard on Sunday.
He says that in the instance that the DP fails to do this, then Matiang'i, just like in the game if chess, could use the powers bestowed to him by the president to make life hard for him.
“Since Matiang’i is a tough guy, if Ruto slips up, Matiang’i will have to checkmate him. That is where they are now," he added.
Trouble started after Matiang'i, while speaking in Kirinyaga county two weeks ago, stated that he can only take instructions from Uhuru after his office was accused of demeaning the DP.
This was not taken well by allies of Ruto, with the DP personally hitting out at him a day after, accusing him of chest thumping, forgetting that he is just an appointee.
Ruto's allies have since cautioned the CS against misusing his powers, failure to which they will send him home.