Central leaders mum as Ruto allies dare Uhuru over graft

Starehe Mp Maina Kamanda,Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, Dennis Waweru, MP, Dagoretti South and Senator Kericho Haron Cheruiyot during a church service and fundraiser at saint Marys catholic church on 3rd JULY 2016 [PHOTO DAVID GICHURU]

Before the 2017 General Election, David Murathe, one-time Jubilee Party honcho, went on national television and like an oracle, predicted that President Uhuru Kenyatta would be a different man in his second and final term.

Mr Murathe, believed to be close to the president, said his boss would pull no punches as he cements a legacy that was threatening to slip out of his grip. His observations have come to pass, and in Uhuru’s second term, cracks that had been peppered over during his formative years and friendships of convenience that had to be tolerated have no place in his daily diary.

And this has, just a year into his final term, put not only the President, but his former allies too in an awkward position as they are constantly being forced to choose between the departing king and an aspiring prince and by doing so, ripping the party originally meant to be a uniting force for Kenyans right through the middle.

Disharmony in ruling party

From the silent undertones in private over the rift in the party, now legislators who were elected on Jubilee Party ticket have come out to hit at the president in what signals disharmony in the ruling party.

Notably, Uhuru is politically exposed given that most of his henchmen who would be vocal every time the president was under attack are today mute and have adopted a wait-and-see-attitude.

Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu, Senate Deputy Speaker Kithure Kindiki and Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria were among a retinue of politicians who were always in the news asking Uhuru’s detractors to stay away. But things seems to have taken a different trajectory.

They have not responded to attacks from Deputy President William Ruto’s allies on the fight on corruption that’s allegedly being “applied selectively.”

Last weekend, Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi lashed out at Uhuru for unfair fight on graft citing the prosecution of parastal chiefs from one community. He cited other projects and questioned why only the Arror and Kimwarer dams are being highlighted.

His Bahati counterpart Kimani Ngunjiri accused Kenyatta of being hypocritical on uniting Kenyans and matters of corruption.

“Why would you be silent when your deputy is being called names? Come out and say something, or else tell us how you want,” Ngunjiri said.

As the rhetoric against the Executive grows, there is a curious silence from the once-eager defenders of the throne. Even Murathe, the former Jubilee vice chairperson has been missing in action.

Of interest is that, those defending the beleaguered president are members of the Opposition who were once his harshest critics and only made an about turn after the March 9, 2018 handshake between Kenyatta and Opposition chief Raila Odinga.

Defend the president

National Assembly Minority Leader and Suba South MP John Mbadi recently said on national TV that they were duty-bound to defend the president after the handshake. “We want to see the president succeed in his pursuits,” Mbadi said.

Yesterday, Nominated MP Maina Kamanda and former Dagoretti South MP Dennis Waweru said President Kenyatta is in charge and his true allies know what he is up to on the renewed fight against corruption.

For the last two years, Kamanda said some politicians had been bought using corruption money and that is why they are all over defending their paymasters.

“How can you explain that some first-time MPs are now all over the country buying expensive properties and talking ill of seasoned politicians from Mt Kenya, including defying the president by constantly engaging in politics about 2022?” he posed.

Waweru says Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi’s attack on the presidency should be condemned by every Kenyan with the country’s interests at heart.

“A country whose new dawn was forged out of painful experiences such as 2008 post-election violence cannot condone loudmouths such as Sudi. This is the very reason we legislated against hate-speech,” he said.