Law scholar Prof Makau Mutua on Monday, February 6, revealed how President William Ruto was more powerful than his then-boss former President Uhuru Kenyatta before 2022.
Makau revealed that he wanted to dispel the notion that Uhuru’s 2018 handshake with Orange Democratic Party (ODM) Leader Raila Odinga weakened Ruto, a deputy president then.
During an interview with Spice FM, the Harvard-taught lawyer claimed that the handshake in essence strengthened Ruto and weakened Uhuru.
“Heading to August 9, 2022, general elections, I wrote a lot about who benefited from the split between Uhuru and Ruto.
“The big question was who went away with the largest chunk of the state,” Makau explained post-handshake intrigues.
He revealed that despite being side-lined at the executive level, Ruto was strategic in controlling the state.
“Not only did Ruto get away with the largest chunk of the state, but he was also able to retain the most lethal part,” Makau revealed the immense power Ruto enjoyed as deputy president.
Makau revealed that this imbalance in power made it immaterial whom Uhuru chose to support as the preferred successor.
“Raila lost the presidency because even though Uhuru supported him, Ruto had control of the system,” he remarked.
On how Ruto could control the system when he was a deputy president, Makau read mischief on the people Uhuru had trusted.
‘Uhuru was gravely betrayed by the people close to him, he was a president without the machinery of power,” Makau gave his post-election verdict.
Makau who was the Spokesperson of the Raila Odinga 2022 presidential campaign team, as well as head of its think tank felt that Raila was set to fail from the start.
His remarks mirror those of Raila Odinga who accused his competitor of using unconventional ways to win the presidency.
On December 27, 2022, Raila accused former Independent and Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman Wafula Chebukati of helping Ruto rig the elections.
“In my view, Chebukati committed should be prosecuted and sentenced to jail. What he has committed is a great crime against the humanity and people of this country,” Raila remarked back then.
