Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta committed a series of mistakes that made his estranged Deputy President William Ruto famous, analysts have opined.
The president and his deputy fell out during their second term after the Head of State shook hands with ODM leader Raila Odinga.
President Uhuru’s move to oust his deputy William Ruto from the ruling party is thought to be politically motivated, which analysts say has made Ruto, who is running for the country’s top office in next year’s General Election populous.
The move also prompted the deputy president to revive and rebrand the PDR party to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), currently one of the biggest political parties in Kenya.
According to political analyst Peterson Kariuki, the move by the first in command to appear leanings towards his Handshake partner Raila Odinga to succeed him has further built the deputy president.
“President Kenyatta’s move to bring Raila in government through his handshake and break his election promise that he would support his deputy as his successor in 2022 made Ruto’s popularity all over the country,” Kariuki said.
According to Kariuki, the move boosted Ruto’s popularity, especially in the vote-rich Mt Kenya region which for many years has been hostile to opposition leader Raila Odinga.
“Mt Kenya voters considered President Kenyatta a traitor by breaking his promise to serve for ten years and then join his deputy for ten years,
“It has been a difficult task for the president to convince Mount Kenya residents that I am not interested in harming William Ruto,” said Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua.
According to the latest survey by Infortrak, UDA, a party heavily associated with the deputy president is currently the most popular party countrywide with an approval rating of 33 percent against Raila’s ODM party which had an approval rating of 32 percent.
