“Mkutano Ilikwisha” Why Isaac Rutto Refused to hand over His CCM Party to William Ruto

William Ruto is a man under siege a year after President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga decided to bury the hatchet and decide to work together through the much-publicized March 2018 handshake.

The Deputy president since then has not taken any chances after Uhuru showed his hand early digging cataracts on Ruto’s path to State House. Ruto believed that at the end, he will be pushed out of the ruling party.

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Ruto was initially eyeing Chama Cha Mashinani party headed by former Bomet governor Isaac Ruto. Last year in November, reports indicate that Ruto sent a high powered delegation led by his allies to visit the former Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto at his Tumoi home in Bomet.

The former county chief had taken a sabbatical from politics despite efforts by leaders from the region to have him join the Jubilee administration. Isaac and his Chama Cha Mashinani Party (CCM) was seen as a political disrupter in South Rift before his influence was clipped by DP Ruto in the 2017 General Election.

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The delegation which included governors Jackson Mandago of Uasin Gishu, John Lonyagapuo, West Pokot, Paul Chepkwony, Kericho and Samuel Tunai, Narok and DP’s aide Farouk Kibet was however unsuccessful in convincing Rutto.

The former governor is said to have declined to surrender his party to the DP, forcing him to shop for another vehicle. Sources said CCM will consider talking with ANC’s Musalia Mudavadi, Ford Kenya’s Moses Wetang’ula and leaders of other parties to form a new political alliance.

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With the recent defection of Eldoret businessman Bundotich Kiprob, Buzeki and Rutto have agreed on a political deal that will see the former governor remain the party leader while Buzeki becomes the secretary general.

Isaac Ruto wants to revamp the party through a massive rebranding and recruitment of new members ahead of a face-off with Jubilee in 2022.

Sources said at least three sitting governors, six MPs and five senators in the region along with with a Mombasa-based tycoon from North Rift back the revival of CCM after falling out with Ruto.

Among those who have retreated from Ruto’s activities is the vocal Uasin Gishu governor Jackson Mandago.

Other neutrals are Uasin Gishu Senator  Margaret Kamar, Woman Representative Gladys Boss Shollei, Aibkoi MP William Chepkut and Kesses MP Swarrup Mishra.

 

 

 

 

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