Former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa has warned Deputy President William Ruto against opting for a silent tactical approach as President Uhuru Kenyatta initiates changes in Jubilee and government.
Echesa, a close ally of the DP argued that the silence would backfire on the DP who seemingly thinks that he will exploit the sackings in 2022.
In a report by the Daily Nation on Thursday, June 4, Echesa added that Ruto was banking on the fact that Uhuru’s purge would anger political elites in the Luhya community, much to his advantage in 2022.
“I am sure if Ruto had pleaded with the President, Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali (former National Assembly Minority Whip) would have survived the axe.
“There have been talks about Francis Atwoli (Central Organisation Trade Union Secretary-General) and Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega Governor) pushing for changes, but I never saw them at State House. The person I saw was the DP and unfortunately, he didn’t raise a finger on the fate of Washiali,” Echesa lamented.
Washiali and Deputy Whip nominated MP Cecily Mbarire were ejected from Minority Whip and Deputy Minority whip on Tuesday, June 2. They were replaced by Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe and Igembe North MP Maoka Maore respectively.
Echesa, who is facing criminal charges, argued that the DP would be disappointed if he expected a fallout within the Luhya leadership due to the changes being made by Kenyatta.
This, the former CS said, is a loophole the DP was reportedly looking forward to exploiting to garner more votes in the region.
“The DP is the General, and we have been fighting for him. I can’t understand how a General can abandon his troops and remain silent when they are being purged the way we have seen in Jubilee Party,” Echesa wondered.
However, Washiali poured cold water on Echesa’s criticism while arguing that he was purged for refusing to play dirty politics.
“You have seen how people like Murang’a Senator Irungu Kang’ata are removing people from committees without any valid reason. That is what I refused to do and is why I was punished,” Washiali disclosed.
As Echesa criticises the DP for silence, Ruto’s powers were also cut short by Kenyatta who reorganised the government on Wednesday, June 3.
The Executive Office of The Deputy President was abolished and instead put under that of the president.
