Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria’s recent truce with opposition leader Raila Odinga continues to elicit mixed reactions among Kenyans.
Their relationship has stirred a debate on the possibility of the Mt Kenya region working with Raila in 2022.
There are already speculations that Kuria might dump his close ally Deputy President Willliam Ruto for Raila ahead of the 2022 polls.
Last weekend, Kuria visited Kisumu, which is Raila’s stronghold, where he met with residents and explained to them the importance of the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila.
On Sunday, Kuria accompanied Raila to the Kasarani stadium to watch the ‘Mashemaji’ derby between Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards.
According to John Onkong’o, a lecturer at a local private university in Limuru, all indications show that Mt Kenya could say Raila ‘tosha’ in 2022.
The political analyst argued that the region could opt to pay the political debt it owes to Raila and the Odinga family before settling Ruto's debt.
“It is a fact that Mt Kenya owes Raila a debt which I think the leaders might consider paying first before considering about DP Ruto,” he said.
Onkong’o stated that Raila is a friend of Mt Kenya despite their sharp political differences.
“If you look through history, the Odinga family has often sacrificed for Mt Kenya,” he said.
The analyst noted that in the quest for independence the late Jaramongi Odinga gave up an opportunity to be president in favour of Jomo Kenyatta who had just been released from prison.
He further argued that history repeated itself when Raila had a chance to be president in 2002 but said Kibaki ‘tosha’.
The analyst opined that the history of Mt Kenya politics is interesting, adding that a section of the region's politicians dalliance with Raila has meaning especially in regards to 2022.
The debate on whether Mt Kenya will honour its debt to DP Ruto rages on despite Ruto stating that no one owes him any political debt.
The DP asked Kenyans to ignore the 2022 political debt debate and instead support the Jubilee government’s development agenda.
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