Political experts on Thursday, April 27, differed on whether President William Ruto was involved in Jubilee party leadership wrangles.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, a section of political analysts strongly believed that leadership wrangles rocking Jubilee Party were indirectly influenced by President William Ruto while others claimed that the former ruling party was at crossroads
For instance, Political Analyst Jane Thuo argued that the agenda pushed by Kanini Kega and Sabina Chege, who shifted their allegiance to President William Ruto, had a hidden powerful force.
"The matter being pushed by Kanini Kega and Sabina Chege is beyond them. Maybe President William Ruto was using them to win the support of the Jubilee party for pushing government agenda in both Houses of Parliament," Thuo explained.
She further raised concern over the criteria used to pick Aldas MP Adan Keynan in the Ruto-backed bipartisan talks team to dialogue with Azimio Team when the Jubilee Party was legally a part of the opposition.
The analyst added that Ruto was using his sympathisers within the Jubilee party to get control of the former President Uhuru Kenyatta-led party.
Thuo's sentiments were corroborated by Political Analyst Mutahi Ngunyi who warned that the Head of State's involvement in opposition could be exploited by Azimio to step-up anti-government protests.
"Dear Ruto, You just added fuel to maandamano (national protests) next week by invading Uhuru Kenyatta's Jubilee party after Northlands. When will these tactical missteps end?" Ngunyi questioned.
Political Analyst Barrack Muluka, however, harboured a different view noting that the leadership clash in Jubilee was normal party politics that befalls parties after an election cycle.
"What is happening in Jubilee is normal party politics, it happened before in KANU (led by Gideon Moi), ODM (run by Raila Odinga) although it could work to the advantage of the ruling coalition," Muluka stated.
To support his theory, Muluka gave an example of what led to the departure of a section of ODM leaders to form ODM-Kenya in 2007. The leaders included William Ruto, Kalonzo Musyoka and Musalia Mudavadi.
Political Analyst Herman Manyora, on the other hand, could not directly link the Jubilee Party leadership wrangles to President Ruto.
Manyora explained that there was a bigger hand in the Jeremiah Kioni and Kanini Kega wars but could reveal the powerful individuals involved.
Political analysts' opinions came a day after anti-Riot Police lobbed teargas outside the Jubilee Party offices in Kileleshwa, Nairobi, to disperse supporters from Jeremiah Kioni and Kanini Kega factions who clashed over its leadership structure
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta also made an impromptu visit to the Jubilee party headquarters hours after supporters of Jeremiah Kioni and Kanini Kega clashed.
