President Kenyatta needs Odinga to calm down the country’s political temperatures and give him a conducive environment to execute his Big 4 legacy,
On the other hand, Uhuru requires Ruto’s backing to successfully implement government policies.
However the vicious clash between Deputy President William Ruto and NASA leader Raila Odinga has placed Uhuru Kenyatta in a dilemma.
The President also needs his deputy to enable him fulfill the Jubilee party manifesto as well as the laid down succession game plan.
The March 9 handshake between Uhuru and Raila and the subsequent turn of events has radically altered the country’s political environment.
The move by the two fierce rivals caused jitters among their supporters and triggered some realignment.
Over the weekend in Mombasa, Ruto laid bare what has along been silent murmurs about the handshake.
We must join hands, engage all leaders and work together to foster peace and unity. These actions will promote good inter-community relations and realise sustainable development. pic.twitter.com/lHDcO5N5Vi
— William Samoei Ruto (@WilliamsRuto) October 1, 2018
“We know what the handshake is but we are very clear about what it is not so don’t bring confusion. The handshake is not a license to bring confusion and propaganda and conman-ship into our (Jubilee) party,” he said.
The comment caused uproar in several quarters with politicians allied to Raila Odinga warning the DP to refrain from such utterances.
“How do you call Raila Odinga a conman? Conman-ship gani? Wewe una nini ya kuconiwa kwanza?,” Hasan Joho, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) deputy party leader posed.
The Kenyatta-Odinga pact has no doubt unsettled Ruto and triggered questions on his chances in the 2022 State House race despite observers terming him a clear frontrunner.
While Odinga has not yet made in clear whether he will run for presidency, his lieutenants have been urging him on.