The underlying significance of the month of March may pass unnoticed as Kenyans focus on the August polls, the succession race, the row panning out between political aspirants and the political tension within the country.
For the past few years, Kenya's politics has been dominated by debates on how 'the system' and the deep state play a key role in influencing government policies and succession politics.
While leaders allied to Deputy President William Ruto have lambasted the government for supporting his perennial rival, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, confidants of the latter have boasted of having an advantage as the country gears for the August 9 polls.
The whole debate was occasioned by the fallout of President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy, William Ruto. However, this is not a new phenomenon in Kenya's politics as history has kept on repeating itself.
Interestingly, the month of March has played a crucial role in shaping the political future of Kenya's seconds in command formerly known as Vice Presidents and currently referred to as Deputy President.
It has proven to be the toughest month that tests their resolve and grit in their quest to ascend to the higher office.
Jaramogi Odinga - March 1966
At the height of powerplay within Kanu, the ruling party convened the famous Limuri Convention on March 16, 1966, where then Cabinet Minister Tom Mboya proposed changes to its constitution.
Jaramogi and Mboya were embroiled in a supremacy battle within the party and the latter seized the opportunity to amend the constitution. Kanu adopted a new party structure which saw Jaramogi's seat split into eight.
The move was aimed at curtailing the powers of Jaramogi who had crossed paths with founding father Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. Jaramogi, despite being a kingpin in the Nyanza region, lost the area's party Vice President seat to Lawrence Sagini, Kenya's first Minister for Education.
Consequently, in April 1966, Jaramogi tendered his resignation as the country's Vice President and joined the opposition.
George Saitoti - March 2002
While serving as the country's Vice President, Saitoti fell out with Kenya's second President Daniel arap Moi during the Kanu Kasarani NDC on March 18, 2002.
The two differed after Kanu endorsed its merger with Raila's National Democratic Party (NDP).
Saitoti is remembered for his famous speech where he stated that he would not contest any seat in the 2003 General Election.
"There comes a time when the nation is more important than an individual," Saitoti stated in brief.
Upon the merger, Saitoti who was the vice-chairman was dewhipped while politicians Uhuru Kenyatta, Kalonzo Musyoka, Musalia Mudavadi, and Katana Ngala were promoted as the party created four vice-chairmen positions. Raila was named as the Secretary-General of the party.
The differences between the two leaders and the tussle over the control of the ruling party continued to play out with Saitoti ultimately being sacked as the Vice President.
Moi endorsed Uhuru as his preferred successor while Saitoti joined the Narc coalition. He was later joined by Raila and Kalonzo after they bolted out of the party following Uhuru's endorsement and rallied behind Mwai Kibaki in the famous 'Kibaki Tosha' Uhuru Park declaration.
William Ruto - March 2018/2022
"Please tell him Uhuru that even if he has decided to help Raila, I plead with him humbly, that he should not unleash the same sword we used together on him Raila to cut my feet," DP Ruto urged Gatundu South residents during a March 2022 rally in President Uhuru Kenyatta's backyard.
After six months of heated politics after the 2017 General election, Uhuru and Raila shook hands at the steps of Harambee House on March 9, 2018, and forged a 9 point agenda that would shape the dynamics of the country's politics.
In the beginning, the DP welcomed the handshake between the two leaders. However, his tune changed even as the 9 point agenda birthed the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) that sought to amend the Constitution.
His open disagreement with Uhuru saw him lose favour with President and he resigned to fate by unveiling his own political outfit, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
The BBI debate divided the DP and his boss with Uhuru leaning more towards his handshake partner. On March 12, all indications of reunion between the two leaders faded as Uhuru officially endorsed Raila's presidential bid under the Azimio La Umoja coalition.
This was after, the Jubilee party unanimously resolved to remove Ruto as the deputy party leader and replaced him with four new deputy party leaders, Jimi Angwenyi,Kinoti Gatobu, Naomi Shaban, and Peter Mositet.
