President’s inner circle fights to save Ruto man

President Uhuru Kenyatta signs into law the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (Amendment) Bill, 2019. National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, Majority Leader Aden Duale and Treasury CS Ukur Yatani attended the signing ceremony. [PSCU]

Some of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s men are fighting to save National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale from the purge targeting Deputy President William Ruto’s allies, The Sunday Standard has learnt.

It has emerged that Duale has found defenders in National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi and Jubilee Vice Chairman David Murathe, who are powerful allies by virtue of their closeness to the president.

Yesterday, Murathe was emphatic that Duale has been effective in pushing the government’s agenda in the House. He added that although the legislator is viewed as sympathetic to the DP’s cause, there was nothing to suggest he had let the president down in his duty as Majority Leader.

The fate of the Garissa Town MP – who was among MPs who wrote protest letters to the Registrar of Political Parties to challenge controversial Jubilee appointments in solidarity with Ruto – appears to have divided the president’s Kieleweke camp, with some allied MPs insisting that he, too, should be punished.

Duale has served for more than seven years as Majority Leader, and helped secure House approval for government Bills and motions despite a hostile opposition - particularly during Jubilee’s first term in office. This has prompted the plea that his “exemplary performance” should count for something.

Sources suggested that, adding their voices to the radicals in the ruling party who want all Ruto allies shown the door to pave way for loyalists to occupy plum House positions, are strong forces within ODM.

While the Orange party has no role in Jubilee Parliamentary Group affairs, its members wield influence because of the handshake between its leader Raila Odinga and the president.

Focused team

Murathe yesterday suggested Duale was likely to survive for delivering on his mandate.

He added that the reason for the purge was not to remove Ruto’s allies as widely claimed, but for the president to have a focused team to deliver in the remaining period of his term.

“We do not care about the legislators’ political persuasions, we want a team that is focused and that would help the president in his quest to leave a lasting legacy,” said Murathe.

He said they did not care about Duale’s political inclinations, but were impressed by his performance in pushing for government business.

Muturi declined to discuss the matter yesterday when contacted by The Sunday Standard.

The apparent dilemma for the president’s men was well captured by Jubilee Secretary General Raphael Tuju, who said they were still discussing the intended changes in the National Assembly’s leadership and committee posts.

“Consultations are going on about all the leadership positions and we will soon make it clear after a final decision is arrived at. We understand that there is a lot of anxiety about the matter,” said Tuju yesterday.

He had previously declared there would be no mercy for any member who has shown signs of disloyalty to the party.

“We are not in the business of just issuing threats to people. There is no turning back on the matter of disloyal members. How do you punish some disloyal members but spare others,” Tuju had earlier asked.

Yesterday, Duale declined to comment on the matter, but has in previous interviews maintained he had Kenyatta’s support in pushing the Jubilee agenda in the House.

On Thursday, Duale was at State House to witness the president’s signing into law of the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (Amendment) Bill, 2019. Also present were Muturi, Deputy Chief of Staff Njee Muturi, Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani, Attorney General Kihara Kariuki and National Assembly Clerk Michael Sialai. 

Yesterday, Murang’a Woman Rep Sabina Chege and Nakuru West MP Samuel Arama said the president would have the final say on whether Duale should continue serving in the position.

Arama said Duale had performed “extremely well” in articulating Jubilee’s agenda, adding that it would be difficult to get a replacement who will command the respect of MPs from across the political divide.

“The work of Majority Leader is not that easy, and I can tell you that there is a general view that Duale has performed well in pushing the government agenda,” he said.

“The president will have the final say. Personally, I have no issue with him continuing to serve the party in the National Assembly because he has delivered well and I don’t think the party can get a better replacement.”

Chege said: “It is the decision of the party leader that will prevail.”

But Cherangany MP Joshua Kutuny and his Nyeri Town counterpart Ngunjiri Wambugu insisted that MPs in Tangatanga should all be shown the door because their allegiance was divided.

“The Tangatanga team has prioritised 2022 politics at the expense of helping the president deliver. We feel that they should be set free to campaign so as to allow a team ready to help the president to work,” Kutuny said.

Wambugu said removing committee chairs allied to Ruto but sparing Duale would negate the objective of the purge.

“If we don’t remove Duale there will be no change in the National Assembly. He has created a very strong network and will continue manipulating new committee chairpersons to push the Tangatanga agenda if he remains in the position,” he charged.

“If you are the Majority Leader and MPs are rebelling against your party leader, it can only mean that you are ineffective or you are part of the rebellion.”

Seriously weaken

A senior State House official who sought anonymity told The Sunday Standard that there was serious division on the fate of the Majority Leader.

“Many agree that Duale has helped the president’s agenda in the House and his removal will seriously weaken government business,” said the source.

Some of the individuals pushing for Duale’s ouster are reported to have settled on Igembe North MP Maoka Maore as a possible replacement, citing his experience in Parliament and government operations.

Another source suggested Maore may replace National Assembly Whip Benjamin Washiali, who is also in trouble for his links to Ruto.

Earlier this month, Ruto allies Kipchumba Murkomen and Susan Kihika were ejected as Senate Majority Leader and Senate Chief Whip, respectively. They were replaced by West Pokot Senator Samuel Poghisio and his Murang’a counterpart Irungu Kang’ata, respectively.

Days later, Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki was kicked out as Senate Deputy Speaker, followed by the removal of Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, Bomet’s Christopher Lang’at and Laikipia’s John Kinyua from chairing key committees in the Senate.

Meanwhile, a meeting hosted by Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli on Friday also discussed the pending purge in the National Assembly.

The meeting is said to have discussed a proposal to replace Washiali (Mumias East MP) as Majority Whip with Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe.

The meeting further resolved to support all the changes that would be effected in the House by the president.

Tuesday next week has been set as a tentative date for Jubilee’s National Assembly Parliamentary Group meeting, and it is expected to initiate a purge similar to the one staged in the Senate.

It has further emerged that Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi and his Ford Kenya counterpart Moses Wetang’ula told their MPs to keep off Jubilee politics.

“The party leader told those lobbying to take over departmental committee chairs and vice chairs, and are supporting Jubilee to kick out rebels from House leadership that they should cease immediately,” said Lugari MP Ayub Savula.

“He has instructed me to tell members to refrain from this. It is an illegality. We will work with those proposed by the president. We support his agenda of Big Four, fighting corruption and interventions on Covid-19.”

Transport Committee Chair David Pkosing was also likely to survive the purge over his performance in helping the president in the areas of infrastructure, which is one of the pillars of the Big Four Agenda.

Pkosing is credited with midwifing the move to nationalise Kenya Airways, the creation of the roads bond, and the merger of a shipping line that would increase business at the Mombasa port.

Murathe said the party would be alive to the fact that some so-called rebel MPs had delivered on their responsibilities.

“For Pkosing, he chairs a committee that at the moment has a lot to handle, and changing its leadership midway would be hazardous,” said the State House senior official.

The committee’s workload includes delivery on the Kenya Airways and Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) merger plan, explained the official.

“The aim is to create a mega holding company to hold KQ, KAA and One Aviation College. This is a critical Jubilee agenda to rescue our aviation in the post-Covid-19 epoch.”

Pkosing’s committee is also on course to deliver a tolling law for the Nairobi Expressway, which is key to decongesting traffic, as well as policies that would support the delivery of affordable housing. [Moses Nyamori, Jacob Ngetich and Roselyne Obala]