[President Uhuru Kenyatta (L) chatting with former President Daniel Moi at his Kabarak home when he paid him a visit. (Photo/Mwakilishi)]
After Kenya has experienced one of the most unprecedented electioneering periods in her history where two elections were conducted in the space of two months, the political stalemate is gradually subsiding. The NASA coalition’s ‘major announcements’ are also frozen. However, 2022 presidential election is prognosticated to be another that has never been experienced before as President Uhuru Kenyatta will be left in a dreadful political dilemma.
It’s about who will, between Deputy President William Rutto and Former President’s son Gedeon Moi, President Kenyatta endorse? This is the question that many are currently pondering about. That will be the moment of truth for President Kenyatta. It will be a time for time for him to prove his loyalty to both former president and his close ally Rutto.
In 2002, it is widely remembered how former president Moi publicly endorsed president Kenyatta picking him over former prime minister Raila Odinga, former president Mwai Kibaki, Vice Presidents the late George Saitoti and Musalia mudavadi. President Moi shocked the political class when he expressed his faith in the young and novice politician Uhuru Kenyatta.
It was like Moi was honoring an unknown “vow” or promise to the founding father Jomo Kenyatta that he would ensure his son becomes president and perhaps Uhuru knows about it. Who knows? Maybe there is a deal between the president and the former president.
Remember, Moi declared that KANU will rule for 100 years. President Kenyatta has been the party’s leader from 2002 until the birth of his own TNA Party which was afterward merged with others to form the Jubilee Party.
Therefore, there is no doubt president Kenyatta is linked with the former president with a very special political bond. At the same time, had it not been for Deputy President Rutto’s support in 2013, Uhuru wouldn’t have risen to power.
Even though he has vowed to back him in 2022, this is likely to change. In retrospect, before the August 8 polls, during the nominations, a number of Jubilee candidates from the greater Mt. Kenya region blamed Rutto for play part in fraudulent party primaries that saw some lose their tickets. Peter Kenneth is the best example. And as a matter of fact, he would be an option for the people of Central to place their hopes of leadership on.
For the reasons that there are a number of leaders blaming the DP for losing in the nominations, it is quite likely that there is a cold war within the party and this is yet to come to light when 2022 closes in. The aggrieved Central region leaders may decide to, “let’s spoil for us all” and back Gedeon Moi presidency. If that happens, Uhuru will be left with no choice but endorse Gideon Moi or remain quite just like his predecessor Mwai Kibaki did.