Why MPs turned their guns on Ruto-Raila instead of Gachagua

President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga during a meeting at State House, Mombasa. [File, Standard]

There was a 'conclave' at Karen attended by some Members of Parliament from Raila Odinga's ODM and William Ruto's UDA. The meeting was partly meant to sideline Rigathi Gachagua's ability to grab media headlines. But it turned into a national spectacle in which MPs unexpectedly turned against Raila and Ruto.

Although Ruto defeated Raila in 2022, the two became bosom buddies at the expense of Gachagua, the former deputy president. Initially, Gachagua ignored warnings that Raila and Ruto would gang up against him as he struggled to assert himself as the leader of the mountain. He talked about setting traps to stop Raila from accessing State House. As Gachagua's star fizzled in UDA, Raila's star shone in Ruto's government.