Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen has come out to defend ODM leader Raila Odinga against what he terms as a possible betrayal by President Uhuru Kenyatta ahead of 2022 General Election.
In a tweet, Murkomen who is a close ally of Deputy President William Ruto said that Uhuru must stick to the handshake plan and support Raila Odinga through the Building Bridges Initiative push to amend Kenya’s constitution.
After the handshake and subsequent constitutional amendments, it was expected that Uhuru’s endorsement of Raila Odinga would be rather automatic.
The same has not happened and it appears Uhuru is leaning towards an alliance comprising of Moses Wetangula, Musalia Mudavadi, Gideon Moi and Kalonzo Musyoka.
Murkomen’s statement comes amid numerous reports from Raila’s camp there are State House operatives close to Uhuru planning to shortchange Raila Odinga’s 2022 presidential ambitions.
In March, the ODM brigade threatened to quit the handshake claiming that a section of Jubilee members was frustrating the BBI Agenda.
Led by Siaya Senator James Orengo, Raila’s allies asked Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho to keep the BBI referendum.
“As ODM, we made a choice to support and work with the government. But we will only do so when they are on the right track. If they keep on provoking us, then we are ready to go to the trenches for the sake of Kenyans.” Orengo said at a public event last month.
Lately, reports on a re-union between DP Ruto and Raila Odinga have gained momentum. This is after Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, who is ODM’s deputy party leader held a closed door meeting with Ruto at Maasai Mara.
A day after the meeting, Oparanya went ahead to meet Raila, raising speculations that he was on a mission to unite the two presidential hopefuls.
