Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has bitterly fallen out with his deputy William Ruto.
This was after the head of state shook hands with the then opposition leader Raila Odinga in 2018. While it was believed that the handshake was to cool the political temperatures in the country, analysts say it was linked to the 2022 succession politics.
This saw President Uhuru Kenyatta endorse his handshake partner as the best candidate to succeed him when he retires in August 2022 where Jubilee, ODM and other parties came together and formed the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya alliance party.
After attending the launch of the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya alliance party it was expected that President Uhuru Kenyatta would start vote hunting for the coalition’s leader Raila Odinga, especially in the huge voting bloc of Mt Kenya.
However, Jubilee vice-chairman David Murathe confirmed that Uhuru would not hit the campaign trail terming the move as a tactical retreat to allow the Azimio aspirants to run his campaign.
On Monday, June 6, William Ruto’s 2022 presidential running mate Rigathi Gachagua welcomed the move by Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya alliance chairman Uhuru Kenyatta of not drumming up support for Raila.
“We are happy that President Kenyatta who Raila thought would get him the Mt Kenya votes has kept away from the campaign trail and now he (Odinga) has opted to cling on Karua,” Gachagua said.
Speaking during a series of campaign rallies in Nyandarua County, the Mathira MP dismissed the capability of Raila Odinga’s 2022 presidential running mate Martha Karua of swinging the vote-rich Mt Kenya vote in favor of Raila.
“Let Odinga know that even if he clings to Karua, and sends her to Mt Kenya to campaign for him she will not get him any votes from this region therefore he should be prepared to go to his Bondo home and rest,” Gachagua said.
This comes after the 2022 presidential election front runner William Ruto asked Raila to stop hiding behind President Uhuru Kenyatta.