Political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi claims there is a plan to push Interior CS, Fred Matiang’i to the 2022 presidential elections race.
This strategy is said to be aiming at crowding the 2022 presidential race so as none of the contestants reaches the 50% plus one threshold required to be the President.
According to him, Matiangi has been identified as a possible choice for President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“The strategy is to ensure the presidential field is crowded denying anyone the 50+1 threshold for a round one win,” Mutahi told the Standard Newspaper.
In this plan, the presidential race will be filled with many candidates including Raila Odinga, William Ruto, One Kenya Alliance’ choice and one strong coalition from Matiang’i Mukhisa Kituyi, Alfred Mutua and Kivutha Kibwana.
Mutahi stated that Uhuru’s endorsement, State machinery, and the Gema vote will then make the Interior CS easily clinch the presidency in the event of a runoff.
His sentiments come at a time Fred Matiang’i is considered to be the closes and trusted ministers in Uhuru’s cabinet.
In fact, Matiang’i is the current de facto deputy president in Kenya following the falling out of Uhuru and his deputy William Ruto.
Kivumbi.co.ke understands Deputy President William Ruto denied the possibility of a coalition between him and ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV, Ruto said that Odinga is his main competitor and they can only face off on the ballot.
“Raila Odinga is my competitor. He is the most formidable opponent I have in 2022. If Raila will not be my competitor, who will be? From where I sit, the strongest forces we have is the Hustlers and the ODM team…” he said.
The speculations of a possible alliance between the two began when ODM deputy party leader. Wycliffe Oparanya was found to have had several closed-door meetings with Ruto.
Ruto’s team denied the claims that he visited him on behalf of Raila, saying that the Kakamega governor had gone to discuss his own political future.
Later on, the ODM party said it was aware of the meeting, and that the governor briefed them on the discussions they had with Ruto.
In a statement issued by its Communications Director, Philip Etale, the party said that Oparanya is not on a betrayal mission, but rather a mission to learn more about their opponent.
“Sometimes in politics, it is good to learn what your opponent is plotting and be able to get the best defense to counter them.” the statement read.
