Through his lieutenants, Deputy President William Ruto now claims that opposition leader Raila Odinga is taking advantage of handshake with President Uhuru Kenyatta to engineer early campaigns.
A fortnight ago at a funeral in Murang'a, Raila had dismissed the 2022 presidential debate, and was quick to distance himself on Sunday following claims by James Orengo that he will be on ballot.
"The Prime Minister is not intending to contest any seat at all and the headline in the local daily is erroneous," read a statement by his spokesman Dennis Onyango.
But on Sunday, Elgeyo-Marakwet senator Kipchumba Murkomen and his Nandi counterpart Samson Cherargei accused Raila of using the handshake to campaign.
"We thought it was all about development little did we know that it was a clever way of campaigning for 2022," Murkomen said, adding that Uhuru should make contents of his MoU with Raila open.
On his part, Cherargei said: "Raila is interested in shortchanging Ruto and that is unacceptable. We cannot allow him to hide in government to distabilise Jubilee."
It is not yet clear what role Raila is playing in Uhuru's plans but sources say he could be making his way as Chieg Cabinet Secretary.
In a number of his outings across the country, Ruto has come out strongly against a suspected referendum in which Raila is said to be keen to champion for parliamentary system of government.