President Uhuru Kenyatta is set to decide the fate of his deputy William Ruto as the fight to control the ruling Jubilee Party intensifies. All eyes will be on the Head of State upon his return from France as he is expected to discuss and decide Ruto's future at the party.
Kenyatta chairs the National Executive Committee (NEC) which was asked to eject Ruto as Deputy Party Leader. The request was made by the National Management Committee (NMC) after it accused Ruto of attempting to grab Party power and lead Jubilee in the absence of the President.
"The DP turned up at the party headquarters with more than 30 MPs, many of them known abusers of the president...foul-mouthed MPs that are on record attacking government projects like Huduma Namba. That move almost created an ugly confrontation.
"The NMC has recommended to NEC that the DP ceases to be deputy party leader after he opened the so-called Jubilee Asili offices that are reserved for him and his allies until such a time this development of the Jubilee Asili is discussed at the NEC," Jubilee Secretary-General Raphael Tuju announced on Friday, October 2.
Ruto's allies led by Senator Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet) stated that it was not possible for the party to suspend Ruto as the Deputy Party Leader. He quoted the Jubilee Constitution in article 33, which provides that the president of the Republic of Kenya shall be the Party leader and the Deputy President the Deputy Party leader.
"No person or organ can change that unless the Constitution is amended or Conduct National Elections. Treat Tuju’s lamentations just like a donkey breaking wind!" Murkomen stated.
The proposal to eject Ruto came a day after he clashed with the Jubilee top brass over skipping the National Covid-19 conference in Nairobi, on Monday, September 28.
State House claimed that Ruto was invited whereas the DP's camp refuted claiming that he was not invited. Reports have surfaced alleging that the DP was asked to attend the meeting virtually as opposed to physically availing himself.
"The communication that reached the DP was that he would log in through credentials that were to be assigned, but never came. he was to speak as from 5:50 p.m. and invite the President at 6 p.m.," a source detailed in an interview with the Daily Nation.
The source added that the call to Ruto was never channelled and the DP was left hanging. State House denied the accusations.
On Thursday, May 21, Kenyatta's ally and Jubilee Vice-Chairman, David Murathe stated that ousting Ruto wasn't an option they had considered. He added that the Head of State held Ruto in high regard and was not considering the option to impeach Ruto.
According to Murathe, Kenyatta may block Ruto from ascending to Presidency and avoid an ugly confrontation with his DP while they are still in power.
In an interview with France 24 in France on Friday morning, October 2, Kenyatta reiterated that he does not have a poor relationship with Ruto.
"My intention is to do everything I can to bring Kenyans together and to ensure that the next elections shall not be a tense one or that can lead to a potential crisis of ethnicity. That is the reason I reached out to the Opposition. There are some who feel that that kind of partnership (with the Opposition) is meant to sideline William Ruto," Kenyatta stated.
