Political analysts argue that President William Ruto's decision to reportedly reach out to his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta, through the Kanini Kega-led Jubilee faction may signal that the head of state was cornered in the battle to control the former ruling party.
Ruto was reported to have urged Kega, the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP, and rebel Jubilee lawmakers to convince Uhuru to recognise the current administration. Uhuru was also allegedly pressured to switch allegiance from former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga.
Apart from taking Jubilee Party by installing new leaders and suspending those aligned to Raila's Azimio la Umoja, Ruto's administration was accused of using the Ksh700 million retirement perk rewarded to Uhuru, to attempt to convince him to exit politics.
Former Cheragany MP, Joshua Kutuny, alluded to a plan to convene a meeting with Uhuru to charter a way forward.
"Within the same period, we hope that our party leader (Uhuru Kenyatta) will reach out so that we explain to him why we want to exit.
"We have been frustrated because our members have been denied some positions in Parliament, and that is what has engineered all these, "Joshua Kutuny told Nation on Friday February 17, arguing that confusion within the party was the sole reason of the rise of splinter groups.
Political Parties Tribunal, however, offered Uhuru an upper hand in the battle to control Jubilee, after it suspended the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties directive, which had acknowledged the suspension of Jeremiah Kioni and David Murathe as secretary general and vice chairman, respectively.
The two were replaced with Kanini Kega and Aden Keynan. ORPP, led by Anne Nderitu, had also ratified Kanini Kega-led faction's plan to exit Azimio La Umoja but urged them to solve their squabbles internally.
Political analyst Andati stated that reaching out to Uhuru would flop as the head of state already pledged his loyalty to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga during the late Education Cabinet Secretary George Omore Magoha's burial.
However, he noted that the legislators would be compelled to proceed with their plan to exiting Azimio despite Uhuru's stance.
"The MPs who met Ruto at State House already made their minds. Even if Uhuru remains hesitant, they will still battle to leave Azimio," he told Kenyans.co.ke.
"Another strategy would be challenging the Political Tribunal's decision decision because Ruto is determined to take back Jubilee," Andati explained.
According to insiders, a section of Jubilee MPs are also silently pushing Ruto to honour his State House pledge and reach out to Jubilee Party leader before they exit Azimio.
"We must build a bigger and better team that will work together to effectively prosecute the agenda of the people of Kenya. We cannot move our country forward by leaving others behind," Ruto stated after meeting Jubilee rebel MPs at State House meeting.
Despite his security also being scaled down and the wrangle within Jubilee intensifying, Uhuru reiterated his support for Raila. He also reportedly hinted at being ready to lose his Ksh700 million retirement perk, with the March 16 Constitutional deadline for his exit from politics fast approaching.
"I am retired, but I am not tired. I might be out of the office but I am fully behind Raila. If he tells me we go this way, we will," Uhuru stated during a rally on Saturday, February 12.
"I supported him in 2022, and I will back him because he is an honest man out to unite Kenya. I am not looking for any seat, but it is my right to back Raila," he added, with analysts arguing that his sentiments signified that he was not interested in a handshake or peace pact with Ruto.
However, political analyst Javas Bigambo argued that Uhuru suffered a blow rather than Ruto. Uhuru, he argued, was pinned such that he could not come out to defend Jubilee from fracturing.
"That is, first of all, a psychological blow by William Ruto to Uhuru Kenyatta. Uhuru is a party leader of a party that it fractured, and he cannot come out with his thorax to depend its political activism," Javas Bigambo stated.
"In fact it is Raila Odinga who is running to Jubilee Headquarters to salvage Kioni and not Uhuru Kenyatta. It means that the membership of Jubilee Party is questionable," he added.
Bigambo added elected members could withdraw their subscriptions to Jubilee faction led by Kioni, starving it of cash. Ruto would thus take Jubilee Party and render it inconsequential or reclaim the party and use it to plan for 2027 re-election bid.
"Unless Uhuru Kenyatta finances Jubilee from his pocket," he argued.
