Political analysts on Sunday, May 7, differed on whether President William Ruto was favouring Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi while sidelining Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Experts’ comments came at a time when Mudavadi led the Kenyan delegation at the 11th high level summit of the regional oversight mechanism of the peace, security and cooperation framework for heads of state and governments in Bujumbura, Burundi.
Some experts observed that Mudavadi was just exercising a delegated role and there was no politics in the matter.
Political analyst Herman Manyora maintained that the president was not favouring Mudavadi in any way by asking him to attend an event.
“Those saying that the President is preparing Mudavadi to take over from him are maybe out to make the people of Western Kenya happy, but the truth is, Mudavadi has to fight for himself if he wants to win the presidency,” Manyora explained.
On the other hand, political analyst Martin Andati agreed with Manyora, arguing that the president has no duty of preparing anyone to succeed him.
“Mudavadi should strengthen his ANC party and come up with vibrant mechanisms of convincing Kenyans to elect him after Ruto presidency,” Andati stated.
Political analyst Jane Thuo held a different opinion, maintaining that Ruto was priming Mudavadi to succeed him when he leaves office.
Thuo explained that Mudavadi is well placed to win the presidency with the help of Ruto.
“Mudavadi has the capability of leading this country, now that he is not controversial, and the fact that he was a Minister during Moi regime and deputy prime minister during the Kibaki presidency,” Thuo narrated.
According to Thuo, President William Ruto will most likely sideline his deputy Rigathi Gachagua and support Mudavadi’s bid for presidency.
Ruto abroad
President William Ruto left the country on Friday, May 5, to join other world leaders in attending the coronation of King Charles III in the United Kingdom on Saturday May 6.
On Sunday May 7, the president was expected to visit Netherlands for a series of bilateral meetings.
“Kenya treasures the cordial relations it enjoys with the United Kingdom. We believe it is through the broadening and strengthening of our relations with the international community that we can accelerate the transformation of our country,” the president stated while in the UK.
With Ruto being away for official duty in the UK, the Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was expected to perform government duties as specified in the constitution.
President Ruto chose on Mudavadi to represent him at the peace summit in DRC, because he is the third highest-ranking executive officer in the country. Sending Gachagua would have created a leadership vacuum.
Mudavadi on peace summit
Mudavadi stated that the objective of the summit was centered at evaluating the security situation in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Republic of Sudan and the Region at large in order to enable member states deliberate on the way forward.
Mudavadi confirmed that Kenya under the leadership of President William Ruto was firmly and fully supportive of the initiative being undertaken by the regional member states in ensuring no lives are lost, neither is property destroyed with an aim of bringing normalcy to the affected countries in the region, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan being the most recently affected countries.
“It is disheartening that despite the progress made in the region, several challenges persist or have intensified, notably, the current deteriorating security situation in Eastern DRC, particularly in Ituri and North Kivu where serious escalation of fighting and targeted killings is reported to be taking place,” stated Mudavadi.
Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta who is the facilitator for the DRC peace talks, briefed Mudavadi on progress made in the DRC peace initiative.
Uhuru and Mudavadi met on the sidelines of the summit.
Roles of Mudavadi, Gachagua in Government
Constitutionally, the Prime Cabinet Secretary assists the President and the Deputy President in the co-ordination and supervision of Government Ministries and State Departments.
In addition, the Prime Cabinet Secretary Chairs and co-ordinates National Government legislative agenda across all ministries and state departments in consultation with and for transmission to the Party/Coalition Leaders in Parliament.
Kenyan constitution allows the deputy president to deputise the President in execution of the President’s functions in accordance with Article 147 of the Constitution.
The Deputy President chairs Cabinet Committees, and oversee implementation of Cabinet decisions across all Ministries and State Departments.
