The turbulent and choppy waters of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s succession politics took an ugly turn on Tuesday after an ally of Deputy President William Ruto alleged a plot to assassinate him.
Kapseret Member of Parliament Oscar Sudi sensationally claimed that those opposed to Ruto’s 2022 State House bid have hatched a scheme to eliminate him, adding poison to an increasingly toxic political climate.
Addressing the press in Eldoret, Sudi accused Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) secretary general Francis Atwoli of being part of those orchestrating a plan to eliminate the DP ahead of the next General Election.
He said the DP’s rising political fortunes have made him a target of those with vicious plans.
“Those opposed to DP’s presidential bid should know that he has followers in all corners of the country and should anything happen to him they will be held accountable,” said Sudi. The assassination claims come just days after some bodyguards of politicians allied to Ruto were withdrawn.
They included Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu, Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wa, Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika
Owino said police service is currently undergoing a transformation that would see administration Police officers offer protective services. “We have recalled our officers who have been undertaking protective services and then the services will be given by Administration Police. So no MP, minister, governor or senator will totally lose his (or her) security,” he said.
Sudi has also accused Interior Principal secretary Karanja Kibicho of working to undermine Ruto, accusing him of sowing seeds of discord between the President and his deputy. He accused Kibicho of sponsoring a group of leaders allied to the President and Opposition leader Raila Odinga with the sole intention of derailing DP’s 2022 succession plan.
“We are telling PS Kibicho to stop misusing public resources by sponsoring a section of leaders opposed to Deputy President’s 2022 presidential bid,” said Sudi.
Yesterday, East African Legislative Assembly MP Oburu Oginga told Ruto to forget about the 2022 presidency as his integrity was in question.
Oburu claimed that DP’s graft graph has reached its optimum and he had slim chances of capturing the presidential seat in free and fair elections. “Let us not cheat ourselves, the DP and his allies who have been implicated in courts are not trusted anymore with public offices and electing Ruto in 2022 will put Kenya in more debts since more resources are likely to be swindled.”