Speaking to kenyagist.com, political analyst Mark Bichachi offered insights regarding what such a scenario would mean for Deputy President William Ruto’s bid for the presidency.
“I think that the real question should be whether DP Ruto is capable of forming alliances, and I mean powerful alliances, of his own.
“It is not whether or not Raila will partner with Moi. The former Prime Minister’s move is obvious as we all know he is good at forging strong alliances. Can the DP do the same?” he posed.
From left: Deputy President William Ruto, President Uhuru Kenyatta and Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga at the Bomas of Kenya on Wednesday, November 27, 2019, during the launch of the Building Bridges Initiative
PSCU
The analyst went on to opine that the current war-like stance take by DP Ruto and his close political allies could work against him, as he needed to conjure up an alliance of his own to stand a chance against a possible run-off against Raila’s team in the 2022 polls.
Gideon, the son of the late former President Daniel arap Moi and Baringo Senator, was handed the iconic ‘rungu’ by the family as a symbol of political leadership, during his father’s burial at their Kabarak home on February 12.
This marked the beginning of the Senator’s official bid to carry his family’s political torch, and on March 1, 2020, more than 100 religious leaders trooped back to Moi’s backyard and blessed the political baton -the symbol of power which meant that Gideon had their blessings to run for the presidency in 2022.
“Our party leader urged the church leaders to continue praying for his 2022 presidential race and the soul of Mzee Moi,” Tiaty MP William Kamket said at the event.
Prior to Gideon’s anointment, speculation regarding a possible alliance with Raila emerged as far back as April 12, 2018, barely a month after the historical handshake between the ODM party leader and President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Talk of the unlikely alliance stemmed from a 2-hour closed-door meeting between Raila, Gideon and his late father on the day, after which the 3 emerged for and took a historic photo in which the late president Moi held hands with both Raila and Gideon, with ODM leader on his right and his son on the left.
Former President Daniel Arap Moi (Centre) having a chat with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga (Right) and Baringo Senator Gideon Moi at his Kabarak residence on April 12, 2018.
File
Details concerning the meeting were kept under wraps, but barely a month later, DP Ruto’s visit to the Kabarak residence grabbed national headlines after it was revealed that the late president was not able to actually engage with the DP due to medical commitments.
“Unfortunately, this coincided with the time Mzee Moi was undergoing routine physical exercise with his doctors. Mzee Moi agreed to meet him at a convenient time another day in the very near future,” reads the statement sent out by the late president’s office.
The debacle that ensued angered Elegeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, who went on record and accused his Baringo counterpart of blocking the DP from accessing his father.
“As the chairman of Kalenjin MPs, I have time and again sought an appointment so we can go and visit Mzee. Ni ngumu (It is very hard). Those opportunities are given in bits like Panadol by his son,” he claimed.
More recently, during this year’s Easter period, a meeting held at Francis Atwoli’s – Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General, palatial home in Kajiado, further fueled the possibility of a Raila-Gideon alliance.
Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, Senate Minority Leader James Orengo, National Assembly Minority Whip Junet Mohammed and Jubilee party Vice-chairman were all in attendance.
President Uhuru Kenyatta (right) with COTU boss Francis Atwoli at Uhuru Park, Nairobi, during Labour Day celebrations on May 1, 2017
File
The vocal COTU leader hinted at the alliance, going on to advise DP Ruto to accept the inevitability of the situation.
“When you see me, you see Gideon because he is my chairman in the Kenya African National Union (KANU). The moment DP Ruto accommodates in his thinking that Uhuru will be here to play a key political role after 2022, the better for him,” Atwoli stated.
DP Ruto is therefore left with one bullet according to Bichachi, and this involves backing down from his current war-approach and engineering alliances of his own to counter his opponents.
Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Amani National Congress party leader Musalia Mudavadi, are names that have been constantly linked to Ruto’s team.
Speaking at a funeral back in January 2020, DP Ruto courted Kalonzo by asking him to join him in the run for the presidency in 2022.
“I worked with him (Raila) before and made him prime minister. I stepped out and gave him to Kalonzo. The mistake I did was that I didn’t inform Kalonzo that Raila can’t win. I went and assisted Uhuru Kenyatta in 2013 and became president, and in 2017. We should continue talking with Kalonzo, work together so that we can move Kenya forward together,” the DP stated.
Former Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama was also present, having stirred the hornet’s nest on December 12, 2019, with a declaration that he would lead coalition talks between Ruto and Kalonzo.
Whether Ruto will use this silver bullet or not, is not yet clear, but it is clear that he is seriously weighing his options as political analyst Herman Manyora says.
From left, President Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Musalia Mudavadi at the National Prayer Service held at State House Nairobi on March 21, 2020..jpg
PSCU
