President Uhuru Kenyatta. [Photo/www.sde.co.ke]
Many had warned during his first term, especially when corruption scandals in his government hogged headlines, that he risked making dubious history as the president who was denied a second term at the ballot.
That is a prospect that he dreaded most and he knew that something had to be done to prevent that from coming to pass.
Ann Waiguru, who had been the black eye of the Jubilee government after being implicated in a multi-million scheme, was asked to leave the cabinet, as she was proving to be a liability and risk to Uhuru Kenyattta's re-election prospects.
Anything that threatened Jubilee prospects in the 2017 polls had to be done away with.
In the build-up to the elections, Kenyatta added social media to his strategic quiver, a wise move that helped him connect with his millennial supporters.
His party also solicited for funds from the deep-pocketed Jubilee supporters who heeded the call and donated millions of shillings to the Jubilee war chest.
Compared to his NASA opponent, President Uhuru waged a stellar public relations campaign that won the hearts and minds of many.
He had virtually everything that at his disposal to wage an effective re-election campaign.
As part of his multi-pronged effort to save his presidency, President Kenyatta has managed to win former Odinga allies to his side, leaving the veteran opposition leader exposed.