Former President Uhuru Kenyatta in the last week was accused of being the mastermind behind the Azimio la Umoja Saba Saba demonstrations led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Friday, July 7.
Notably, President William Ruto's allies led by digital strategist Dennis Itumbi, claimed that Uhuru chaired a meeting with Azimio legislators on July 6, where they crafted countermeasures to disrupt government activities.
According to Ruto's camp, one of the ideas floated in the meeting allegedly chaired by Uhuru was the collection of 10 million signatures to unseat President William Ruto.
"After an early morning meeting at Raila Odinga' Kerarapon home between Former President Uhuru and Raila Odinga today. A secret emergency meeting was called by Azimio.
"The meeting agreed that there would be no maandamano in Nairobi and that instead, they would go to Kamukunji grounds and launch the website and public collection of signatures," Itumbi claimed.
However, speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, political analyst Barrack Muluka opined that the Saba Saba demonstrations were all planned and orchestrated by Raila.
According to the analyst with a PhD in Politics and International Relations, Uhuru is an outspoken leader who does not hide behind others.
He cited the instance of Uhuru's public appearance at the Jubilee Party headquarters prompted by the leadership wrangles pitting the faction led by party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni against one led by East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Kanini Kega as the best example.
"I do not know Uhuru to be the kind of person who would be cowardly enough to hide behind someone. I know Uhuru to be the kind of person who comes out to speak.
"He speaks with a lot of passion about things he believes in. We saw that when he was unhappy with events in his party," he stated.
To support this position, Muluka cited Raila's past anti-government demonstrations, observing that they were witnessed after every election year.
"This is Raila's style. He does not accept any election outcome that does not favour him. Until such a time when I have evidence that Uhuru is involved, I would be shy to say that there is Uhuru's Kenyatta's hand," Muluka expressed.
Azimio is yet to issue a response to claims made by Ruto's allies.
Uhuru was last seen publicly on Monday, July 3 when he had a meeting with Bintou Keita, the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Way Forward
Despite appreciating Ruto's political acumen, analysts led by Mutahi Ngunyi have cautioned Ruto over Azimio protests.
Ngunyi admitted that Raila attracted a huge crowd at the Kamukunji rally.
"Dear Ruto, this picture scared me. It is a ground swell. You cannot buy these multitudes. And you can kill the messenger, but not the message.
"The enemy is not Raila. The enemy is the people. These people have nothing to lose except their chains. Don't be casual," he stated.
Meanwhile, Azimio is set to hold another demonstration on Wednesday, July 12.
