Deputy President William Ruto held a crisis meeting with his allies on Monday, March 22, over a looming fallout and rebellion within his camp.
Insiders said that the DP learnt of a planned mass defection of MPs and Senators allied to him, and a possible collapse of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
The politicians are shifting base to President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga's camps, with the two leaders keen on locking Ruto out of the 2022 race.
They further lamented that UDA did not have an elaborate strategy to win the mass and depended on countering Uhuru and Odinga only.
Another cause of the rebellion was alleged internal wrangles between party members, aborted targets and UDA losing by-elections in Kabuchai, Bungoma County and Matungu in Kakamega County.
His allies in Western, led by former CS Rashid Echesa, MPs John Waluke (Sirisia) and Benjamin Washiali (Mumias) are reportedly weighing their options after Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa took a break from Tanga Tanga politics.
Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi also held a meeting with Barasa, with reports indicating that he was sent by the DP to ascertain the cause of Barasa's decision.
"I paid a courtesy visit to my friend Hon Didmas Barasa, Kimilili MP in his office earlier today...I, however, requested him to reduce the four months break to a lesser time. Let's wait and see what he will decide," Sudi stated.
His Mt Kenya allies are also cautious of joining UDA and even opposed a plan by Rift Valley MPs seeking to bar their monthly contributions to the Jubilee Party.
Raila, Uhuru and other party leaders, Moses Wetangula (Ford-Kenya), Musalia Mudavadi (ANC), Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper) and Charity Ngilu (NARC) resorted to a strategy that will lock Ruto out of the presidency. These leaders are infiltrating Ruto's camp to win back key allies.
On Monday, March 23, Uhuru met with Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya, a key confidant of DP Ruto at the Coast. Mvurya led the brigade that campaigned for Msambweni MP Feisal Bader and trounced ODM's candidate Omar Boga in December 2020.
The party leaders also agreed to consolidate support in their own regions and make themselves kingpins to dilute Ruto's influence in the counties.
