Ruto, Raila Politics Threatens to Hamper Covid-19 Fight

Deputy President William Ruto and ODM Leader Raila Odinga meet on April 20, 2016.
Deputy President William Ruto and ODM Leader Raila Odinga meet on April 20, 2016.
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Politics in the country seemed to have come to a standstill since Friday, March 13, when Health CS Mutahi Kagwe announced the first confirmed Covid-19 patient in Kenya.

BBI rallies that would be held every weekend or every other weekend were put to an end after the CS' directive that gatherings had to stop with immediate effect.

A heated debate of who should and who should not attend the Nakuru BBI rally that had been set for Saturday, March 21, stopped. 

Raila Odinga pictured during the Nation Prayer Service held at State House Nairobi on March 21, 2020..jpg
Raila Odinga pictured during the Nation Prayer Service held at State House Nairobi on March 21, 2020..jpg
PSCU

Not only did the leaders stop the gatherings but also the back and forth between rival groups especially Tangatanga (who support Deputy President William Ruto) and Kieleweke (who support President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga).

All leaders were united in the fight against the deadly virus. Though rare, they all sung in the same tune, coronavirus.

In fact, some of their followers would regularly ask where they were and what they were doing.

Almost a month into the fight against the virus, the politicians seem to be back at it, with ODM Leader Raila Odinga affirming that the BBI reggae never stopped and the DP rejecting changes in the structural leadership of the Jubilee Party.

Raila, in an interview with Radio Citizen on Friday, April 10, dismissed reports that Coronavirus pandemic had stopped the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).

He told Kenyans to prepare for a referendum once the coronavirus pandemic had been managed.

“If the referee blows the whistle for half time during a football match for players to go and rest, do you say the match is over?” Raila posed.

Deputy President William Ruto at Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi.
Deputy President William Ruto at Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi.
The Standard

Further, he took a shot at the DP for not donating food to vulnerable Kenyans.

Raila noted that since churches had not been in service for a period of time, it was time for the DP to donate in churches.

"We have been seeing many every weekend going to church, on Saturday they are in church, on Sunday they are in church giving donations. Because now there is no church, the money that they were taking to church, they should now use that money to help the people.

"Not just sitting in your house and sleeping and waiting for everything to clear then you start giving donations to the church again. I would like to see them helping the people, even if you are not going there physically, but you are giving a little," he stated.

On the other hand, the DP resurfaced with an address to the nation on Thursday, April 9.

He has since the ban on public gatherings maintained silence as Kenyans battled the Covid-19 disease.

While Kenyans were expecting new information on how to fight the spread against covid-19, the DP repeated what had already been said either by the president or Health CS Mutahi Kagwe.

A day later, structural changes were made in Jubilee party, something that the DP termed as fraudulent.

"As Kenyans are focused on the Covid-19 pandemic, some shadowy characters are attempting to fraudulently institute illegal changes in officials of Jubilee party. As deputy leader, I have alerted the registrar of the fraud. Party members should know that the matter is being handled," DP Ruto stated.

Jubilee Party Secretary-General Raphael Tuju during a press briefing on January 9, 2019.
Jubilee Party Secretary-General Raphael Tuju during a press briefing on January 9, 2019.
Daily Nation

The party's secretary-general has since explained that the changes were effected after a number of officials landed jobs in government.

The wrangles in Jubilee party are not new after yet again, the party, through the sec-gen, fired the Kirinyaga Majority Leader James Murang'o.

Mutira Ward Representative, Kinyua Wangui filed a motion to impeach Waiguru which was supported by Murang'o, accusing the governor of gross violation of the constitution, abuse of office and gross misconduct.

Murang'o was serviced with a letter by the Jubilee Party dated Thursday, April 2 referencing to his dismissal as the Majority Leader of Kirinyaga County.

The MCAs would later apologise to the governor and state that they were 'misled'

Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, political analyst Herman Manyora stated that it was very difficult for politicians not to do what they do best.

"The coronavirus pandemic threw everyone aback and common decency required that we keep away from politics a bit, but to tell politicians to keep from what they do would be a little difficult.

"So when the small opening presented itself when Raila managed to rally people to donate, that gave him an entry point into politics and you can see immediately after that, the press was after him," Manyora stated.

"So politicians created the opportunity to be heard, Raila created it through the donations while Ruto created it through the press conference," he concluded.

Political analyst Herman Manyora makes an address on December 3, 2017.
Political analyst Herman Manyora makes an address on December 3, 2017.
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