Ruto must know kings never make their kingmakers heirs

Jubilee’s Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto were an inseparable item upon their assumption of power in 2013. The duo put on a choreographed show at the unveiling of the Cabinet. They stood at two identical podiums in matching white shirts and red power ties. One thing was clear – this was an equal co-leadership at the pinnacle of the executive. Clearly, Mr Ruto “owned” half the title deed to the State House real estate. Mr Kenyatta went to great lengths to project the image of a coalition government.  Ruto was the kingmaker to Kenyatta the king. But last week, Kenyatta flipped the script. He killed the kingmaker. He banished Ruto to Maralal – Kenya’s Siberia.

Predictably, tongues have been set wagging. Some say there’s trouble in paradise.  Jubilee supremos have forcefully denied a split in the house Kenyatta and Ruto built.  But something is amiss even if Ruto is allowed back at the naming of the rest of the Cabinet. Ruto’s spokesman, one David Mugonyi, has been caught on audio threatening damnation against a Daily Nation journalist who reported on the Kenyatta-Ruto split. That’s enough confirmation of the chasm between two. There’s more – Kenyatta seemed in a huff, and looked visibly agitated, as he unveiled the partial Cabinet. What should have been a moment of joy looked pained. He stood alone, as if to underscore that he’s got no co-equal.