President William Ruto’s surprise visit to his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday, December 9, 2024, set tongues wagging with many pointing towards another political ‘handshake’ on the horizon.
However, leaders allied to Uhuru, led by Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni have come out to dismiss claims of a political partnership between the former and current President. Reports indicated that Uhuru was to get four Cabinet slots amongst them the vacant Interior Ministry.
“On the issue of whether or not Uhuru is going to second experts like ODM (Orange Democratic Movement) that is not his style. He believes and he would like to see a vibrant opposition because a vibrant opposition enables our democratic space to grow,” Kioni noted.
“He (Uhuru) does not believe in swallowing, he does believe in getting people into government in that manner,” he added.
Kioni added that Uhuru meeting Ruto should not be construed into signs of an impending alliance. He claimed that Uhuru frequently consulted leaders who were outside government during his tenure as the Head of State.
“Uhuru is saying that consulting me is not co-opting me into the government. Remember he (Uhuru) consulted Raila many times when we had the Jubilee government but he never crafted him into government. He never appointed them (Raila’s allies) into government. But he was consulting the opposition to get things done like the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI),” he asserted.
Many Kenyans and political observers noted that despite the two terming the visit as a ‘discussion on matters of national and regional importance,’ there was a hidden agenda behind it; a partnership.
Emerging reports indicated that Uhuru was set to join the fray and be part of a ‘super broad-based government’ after Raila Odinga, and have his allies be part of Ruto’s government. This was all seen as part of the strategy ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
Amidst all this, leaders allied to impeached former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua have expressed their shock and disappointment at the Ichaweri summit terming it as an attempt by Ruto to win back the Mt. Kenya region which is under great political uncertainty.
Embakasi North MP James Gakuya has maintained that despite the Monday meeting, the position of the ‘mountain’ would not move and that Ruto’s efforts to appease Mt. Kenya would be futile.
“There is no single element of a diversion that will move Mt. Kenya from where it stands today. I want to tell my good friend Uhuru, who I respect very much, that we respect you and that you should retain your respect. Do not taint yourself. You know the bitterness from Mt. Kenya,” he warned.
All this comes amidst former Moses Kuria’s statement released on December 10 urging Ruto, Uhuru and Raila to close ranks and lead the nation towards a new Constitution.
