Nyeri Town Member of Parliament Ngunjiri Wambugu shared his thoughts on the power play between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy, William Ruto.
Ngunjiri, while speaking at an interview on Citizen TV on Tuesday, February 22, opined that he believed Uhuru outsmarted Ruto in 2022 succession politics.
The mistake Ruto and his allies made, according to the MP, was underestimating the influence Uhuru has in Kenyan politics and assuming President Kenyatta would not openly campaign and support a candidate of his choice.
He explained that Ruto did not anticipate the Head of State to be an active political player prior to the August 9 polls, an opportunity Uhuru seized and capitalised on.
"The Deputy President was of the opinion that the President would not be a player in his succession. He assumed that Uhuru would not meet the people to chart the way forward.
"Uhuru's choice to join campaigns is one thing Ruto never anticipated. The mountain (Mt Kenya region) will shift for we will listen to him," the MP stated, referring to the President's efforts to grab Central Kenya back from Ruto's grasp.
While presiding over the official launch of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Mombasa County on February 7, Uhuru stated that he was going to be vocal in the succession politics despite facing criticism from the DP and his team.
"I told them to focus on development first and I was told that I do not have the powers to do so. They stated that they wanted to roam around and I said that it was fine.
"The time for politicking has come and you will listen to us. We have those who started campaigning early and those of us who have just begun. This is a marathon," the Head of State stated.
However, even as Uhuru hosts leaders from the vote-rich region at Sagana Stage lodge on Wednesday, February 23, allies of the DP have criticised reports alleging that he will speak on his fallout with Ruto.
Led by Kiharu MP, Ndindi Nyoro, the lawmakers asked the President to explain why he opted to support former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
"If you tell us about your fallout, also explain why you allowed your allies from Mt Kenya to be intimidated. Tell us what we did wrong," Nyoro stated.
"The President has never said that he will spill the beans. Uhuru Kenyatta will never do so, I know him. It is just an agenda being pushed by political brokers like David Murathe (Jubilee Vice-Chairman)," Garissa Town MP, Aden Duale, added.
Nonetheless, Uhuru allies maintained that Ruto instigated the friction between the two leaders.
In a past interview, Jubilee Secretary General, Raphael Tuju, claimed that Ruto approached Raila to sabotage Uhuru in 2017, a few months before the handshake between the President and the ODM leader.
