Meru governor Kiraitu Murungi has described President Uhuru Kenyatta as a master of the political game in as much as he has ignored the country’s economy unlike his predecessor Mwai Kibaki.
In his recently launched book, Beyond Politics, Kiraitu Murungi says that Uhuru has played his political cards so well, emerging as one of the most sought-after politicians in the country now..
“(President) Uhuru has become the new professor of politics after (late president Daniel) Moi. He has outfoxed, outmaneuvered, co-opted, or sidelined all his political competitors,” Meriu governor Kiraitu Murungi says in the book.
He describes Uhuru’s trick of keeping his foes close to him as a strategy to keep them competing to catch his attention and it has been clear in how both Kalonzo, Raila, and Mudavadi have been coalescing around the president.
“His strategy of seeking dialogue and compromise with his political opponents, discreetly playing his cards very close to his chest, has put all of them in a race of proximity to him,” Kiraitu Murungi opined.
True to the words of Kiraitu Murungi, President Uhuru has survived his second term as president by keeping the opposition on his side.
He made this possible with the March 2018 handshake between him and ODM leader Raila Odinga.
When Uhuru mended fences with Raila, the other NASA coalition members went running to his side secretly, seeking to get a place at his table hence the formation of One Kenya Alliance that brings together former co-principals of Raila in National SUper Alliance.
One Kenya Alliance, bringing together Kalonzo Musyoka, Musalia Mudavadi, Mises Wetangula and KANU boss Gideon Mois is believed to also have the blessing of Uhuru Kenyatta.
With the current political tides, the leaders are moving more close to Uhuru, hoping that it will increase their chances in the 2022 polls.
Just as Kiraitu Murungi explains in his book, Uhuru has also mastered the art of calming the storm to survive politically.
This was evident in March 2021 when ODM accused Interior PS Karanja Kibicho of planning to collapse the BBI ship.
“If he must continue meddling in the work of the secretariat if he must continue dictating how we work, if he is that indispensable, we will be left with no choice but to abandon the BBI. Kibicho is causing political constipation and we are not afraid to tell him that,” said Suna East MP Junet Mohamed.
When the heat from ODM became too high, Uhuru moved with speed to calm Raila’s camp. He held a closed-door meeting with the former Prime Minister and the complaints were never to be heard again.
