President Uhuru Kenyatta's surprise meeting with NASA leader Raila Odinga has sparked various reactions on what the unity deal could mean for Deputy President William Ruto and his planned Presidential bid in 2022.
Already, a number of Jubilee lawmakers considered allies of Ruto have expressed apprehension over the agreement, warning that the opposition chief could use his dalliance with the President to scuttle Ruto's plan.
Cherangany MP Joshua Kutuny on Tuesday cautioned that Raila could use the opportunity to reinvent himself politically and create a parallel centre of power around Uhuru.
"It is true that the pact has consequences for 2022. Raila could take advantage of this as a politician to reinvent himself. It is now upon the DP to take the lead and embrace everybody in government and outside to ensure there is no possibility of potential parallel centres of power being created around Uhuru," the outspoken MP stated.
[caption caption="President Uhuru Kenyatta with NASA leader Raila Odinga at Harambee House on Friday"]
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Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki, who has been angling to be named Ruto's running-mate in 2022, also warned that Raila could destroy Jubilee from within.
"Raila is like the camel that told a house owner to allow it to shelter only its head from the rains only to ask for his hump to be allowed in too. After it was finally allowed, the entire camel came inside and the house crumbled. We do not want that to happen to Jubilee," Kindiki stated at a church on Sunday.
Renowned political analyst Benji Ndolo, however, has a contrary opinion and does not believe that the deal is a serious threat to Ruto's quest to be Kenya's 5th President.
In a conversation with Kenyans.co.ke on Wednesday, Ndolo explained that a perceived parallel power centre would indeed exist, but would be easily contained by DP Ruto as Raila has no substantive power.
"It's not a real threat, William is not the kind of guy to come crying in the media. He's all over the country, building networks. Raila has lost on every count; strategy, representatives, even propaganda," Ndolo stated.
Ndolo noted that Raila's brand had taken a hit following the protracted 2017 elections and that his strength in Parliament was also significantly diminished.
"Raila said clearly this is his last bullet. He told his supporters his votes would not be stolen, he promised to take them to Canaan," he maintained, noting that many NASA supporters had grown disillusioned with the Opposition.
He, however, also noted that Raila's support base would be of interest to the DP.
[caption caption="Former Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto, Cherangany MP Joshua Kutuny and DP William Ruto"]
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