Jubilee Party Secretary General, Raphael Tuju, has witnessed changing fortunes since President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, agreed to work together on March 9, 2019.
Nation reported that the CS without portfolio, has now become a key adviser to Odinga, helping coordinate development projects in Nyanza region.
The former MP had been branded as a traitor, when he joined retired President Mwai Kibaki and his affiliation with Uhuru, only made it worse.
Tuju had been attacked multiple times in Nyanza, both verbally and physically, by rowdy residents.
Fast forward to 2019, Tuju's close association with Odinga has endeared him to residents, who had at one time, put a target on his head.
During the launch of the construction of Mahaya Technical Training Institute in Rarieda, on Thursday, Tuju acknowledged “At least now my mother can go shopping in the market in Ndori without fear."
"I can also walk freely without wearing a helmet in Siaya and Kisumu," he added.
Tuju has even been praised by Odinga's close aides, who have termed him as a key element in Uhuru's government.
“As it stands today, Tuju is a very critical player in the governance of this country," stated Orengo, who was speaking in Rarieda during the commissioning of some development projects in the area. "If you attack Tuju, you attack one of us," he added.
Otiende Amollo, who is the MP of Rairieda Constituency, which Tuju once represented, told locals that “You must now start viewing Tuju as more than your former MP. He is now the representative of the president and closest in his inner circle because he is a Cabinet minister and secretary general of the ruling party.”
The changing fortunes have led many to believe that Tuju, may be angling to revive his political career but he has dismissed the reports.
“People, especially people of the Nyanza region, think that if I am seen to be working with Odinga, then it means I am interested in a certain political office. The truth of the matter is that I am not.
"I have no interest whatsoever, of becoming the governor of Siaya for example, or MP for Rarieda. I have stated it before and I state it again. From the time I left active politics, I went back to private endeavours which kind of confine me to Nairobi," the CS told Nation during an interview.
He also addressed the restlessness in Jubilee, that has been brewing because its members, are wary of how Uhuru's relationship with Odinga, affects the president's association with Deputy President William Ruto and his supporters.
“Inclusion does not mean the exclusion of some people. There is enough space for all of us in this country. And anybody trying to say that because there is the inclusion of Luos, Kalenjins are going to be marginalised is fear-mongering. It is our collective responsibility to fix the problem we have caused,” he responded.
