Deputy President William Ruto may now change strategy on his increasing forays to the populous Mt Kenya region, reports the Sunday Nation.
A furious president Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday reprimanded MPs believed to be steering Ruto's 2022 succession plan at the expense of development.
"Do not take my silence for granted. I will give directives at the appropriate time. It's either you stop loitering and work for the people or wait for the wrath," warned the president.
Sources indicate that Uhuru, feeling betrayed by the elected leaders from the region, banned them from persistent media appearances with Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria facing his wrath.
And the Thursday's meeting has reportedly thrown MPs in Ruto's camp into unprecedented limbo, with some now considering going underground to avoid rebelling openly to the president, something that could hamper their 2022 chances.
“It will be a delicate balancing act between appearing to defy the President and openly supporting the Deputy President,” said an MP, who declined to talk on record “until things cool down”.
One MP indicated that the “open hostility” by the President was serious and Mt Kenya leaders allied to the Deputy President will in the interim either keep off Mr Ruto’s meetings or tone down their rhetoric.
On Saturday, Jubilee vice-chairman David Murathe wondered why the MPs had issues with being asked to focus on development.
“We are no longer in the Moi days where development was dished out from State House, it is planned in Parliament today. Let the MPs know that the President was not elected because of them but they were elected because of the President,” he said, adding that the President’s unity agenda would not be distracted by “us versus them” politics.https://mobile.nation.co.ke/news/politics/Uhuru-censure-of-MPs-punctures-Ruto-s-forays-in-Mt-Kenya/3126390-4835628-e2l2mtz/index.html
Moses Kuria and Kimani Ichungwah have been leading Ruto's campaigns in the region and the latest slap by the President could seen them skipping Ruto's functions.
This is not the first time Uhuru is criticising leaders from 'loitering' around given that in May this year, Mr Murathe revealed that Uhuru had warned the leaders in secret meetings.
To lead by example on his sentiments, Uhuru who revealed that his choice for 2022 will shock many residents, banned Mt Kenya leaders who do not come from Nyeri from accompanying him to the Nyeri function after the meeting.