Two factions have emerged at the House on the hill following the d’etre between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his erstwhile political nemesis Opposition leader Raila Odinga at it’s all centered around 2022 succession wars.
One faction has hitherto been dubbed the “Mabadiliko camp” and it is pro Uhuru-Raila. It comprises of powerful individuals within the close knit circles of the powers that be while the other is team “tangatanga or Kumangamanga” that is hell bent on having Deputy President William Ruto ascend to the throne.
The Mabadiliko camp are already pushing for referendum in order to introduce the Position of a powerful Prime Minister and two deputies with the Presidency being ceremonial. While the President will be elected on the ballot, the PM position will go to the leader of the majority party or coalition and as it stands, that is Jubilee.
The ‘mabadiliko’ mandarins have it all planned out. In the new power set up, Cabinet Ministers will be appointed from sitting MPs without vetting. Talks have began to have powerful Governors serving final term got for MP seats and once they get into Parliament, they will be appointed in powerful cabinet positions.
Governors targeted are Mombasa’s Hassan Joho, Kakamega’s Wycliffe Oparanya, Kivutha Kibwana-Makueni, James Ongwae- Kisii and Amason Kingi- Kilifi.
So powerful is this team that they have countless times succeeded in making things unbearable for the Deputy President and his allies. They have pushed Uhuru to severe ties with his Deputy and create a power vacuum in Jubilee if he is to go for the yet to be created PM post.
Consequently, things have been so bad between the ex tight buddies who in their first term used to match suits, ties and grin at each other like newly weds that Uhuru stopped picking Ruto’s calls.
The camp also saw to it that Statehouse operatives allied to Ruto were either demoted, fired or relocated. Former Statehouse Comptroller Lawrence Lenayapa was given a job as Envoy to Netherlands and his place taken by ex Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua who blames Ruto for losing Jubilee ticket.
Eric Ng’eno, ex Uhuru’s speech writer is now idling at Ruto’s Annex office and so are Denis Itumbi, Munyori Buku and James Kinyua.
In other moves, the mighty squad planned to have Ruto’s ally Ben Chumo barred from the Salaries and renumeration commission by being arrested just a day to his vetting before Parliament. Other allies like Sports CS Rashid Achesa has had crucial dockets removed from his Ministry, Charles Keter-Energy has had his Ministry divided into two taking away the money laden Petroleum docket.
But Ruto knows how to fight and fight dirty. His latest come back is to ensure he compromises members of the Building bridges team which has been tasked with recommending the referendum. In fact, to begin with, he has ensure the Treasury led by his ally Henry Rotich frustrates the Building Bridges team financially by denying them the allocated budget.
He has gone ahead and pocketed key members of the initiative like John Seii who despite being a member of the team last week led Kalenjin elders in demanding that Uhuru supports Ruto in 2022. Others believed to have tasted the bulky brown envelope are Bishop Lawi Imathiu, Senator Yusuf Haji, Bishop Peter Njenga, Morompi ole Ronkai, Makueni Women Rep Rose Museo and Saeed Mwanguni.
Buckle up people- it is gong to be a bumpy ride.
