If Ruto Quits, Kenyans Will Forget Him - Ahmednasir

A photo collage of Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi and Deputy President William Ruto
A photo collage of Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi and Deputy President William Ruto
File

Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi has warned Deputy President William Ruto that Kenyans would forget him if he quits Jubilee, amid the cold war with President Uhuru Kenyatta manifested in the onslaught against his allies.

Speaking with Citizen TV anchor Jeff Koinange, on JK Live, on Wednesday, May 20, the lawyer urged Ruto to stay steadfast in government as he had only seven months left before full-blown 2022 politicking began. 

Ahmednasir advised Ruto to fight till December 2020, as he had already shown restraint in giving up in the first few months he has been under siege.

Senior counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi
Senior counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi
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"If he walks away, he walks into oblivion. If he asked for my advice, I would tell him that all he has to do is manage the crisis up to December 2020. I think he has done well to survive in the first three months since Coronavirus broke out (in March 2020).

"From January next year (2021), it will be all about every man for himself," Ahmednassir opined.

However, the lawyer also asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to disclose the cause of the fallout with his deputy amid rumours of a looming impeachment against Ruto.

"It is high time the president tells us what is wrong with him and the DP," Ahmednasir stated. 

On Monday, May 18, a section of Jubilee leaders warned Kenyatta against initiating a motion to impeach Ruto. The group was led by MPs Kimani Ichung'wah (Kikuyu), Rigathi Gachagua (Mathira),  John Kiarie (Dagoretti South) and Mohammed Ali (Nyali).

"We are aware that there are plans to bring up trumped-up charges through DCI and EACC against particular Members of Parliament, in an effort to try and coerce them to toe particular political inclinations," Ichungw'ah lamented. 

On Monday, May 18, reports surfaced that Ruto had convened a crisis meeting to address the onslaught against his foremost allies, Senators Kipchumba Murkomen and Susana Kihika, Senate Deputy Speaker Kithure Kindiki, and MPs Benjamin Washiali and possibly National Assembly Majority leader Aden Duale.

Deputy President William Ruto on a development tour of Nandi County on Friday, March 13, 2020
Deputy President William Ruto on a development tour of Nandi County on Friday, March 13, 2020
DPPS

Ruto urged his supporters to stay put and let their rivals have a field day noting that it was essential to sit back and strategise.

“In war, you don’t show your enemies all the arsenal; you will lose. You must retreat and study how far they can go and strategise on how to counter,” a source in attendance quoted the DP according to a report by the Standard

Political analyst and University of Nairobi lecturer Herman Manyora, through his YouTube channel on Saturday, May 16, opined that Ruto had four options on his table if he decided to resign, which would ensure that he and Kenyatta part with dignity.

The options he suggested include going mute on Kenyatta, work with Kenyatta and pull out of the 2022 race to focus on 2027, leave government by resigning and pull out of 2022 race and fourth, resign and strategies on 2022.

With Ruto contemplating his next move, the impeachment card against him is slowly shaping, with Kenyatta reportedly gathering numbers in Parliament and Senate through mergers and coalitions.  To move the motion to impeach Ruto, the mover must have the support of at least 116 MPs (or one-third of the total number of 349).

However, to actually impeach the DP, 233 votes are needed. The DP reportedly enjoys the support of almost 124 MPs, those who fought with him against the Jubilee National Management Committee changes, which they lost.

Video: Citizen TV

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