President Uhuru Kenyatta could be indirectly preparing the way for his deputy William Ruto's takeover after the 2022 general elections, political analyst Tom Nduko has said.
However, this comes at a time when Uhuru seems to be sidelining Ruto, even refusing to reassure him of his support, as he promised in the run-up to the 2013 and 2017 polls.
But Nduko says that all this could be part of the plot to better Ruto's winning chances, including Uhuru's 2018 truce with Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga.
Speaking on Wednesday, he suggested that Uhuru could also be 'abandoning' Ruto to allow him time to campaign, under the notion that Ruto no longer has any business in government.
"Uhuru is giving the Deputy President enough time to better his winning chances. All this could be a way of removing the hurdles from his way," he said on KBC English Service.
He cautioned politicians against spreading the rumour that the two have already parted ways, suggesting that being politicians, their actions should not be given too much attention.
Nduko said that the two leaders individually struck a deal to work together, in the absence of the groups of politicians allied to them, and it is them to declare that they have parted ways.
"When these people met we were not there, let's not make guesses basing on their actions," he added.
Pundits have argued that the handshake might have been a tact to woo Raila and stop him from paralyzing government operations, which will in return enable the government to deliver.
Ruto can then easily use Jubilee government successes to solidify his campaigns in 2022.