As President Uhuru Kenyatta’s succession politics hots up, ODM leader Raila Odinga and Deputy President Dr William Ruto are cautious even when dealing with their close aides, for they are not sure whether they will be betrayed or are being taped. The two are now spying on each other ahead of 2022.
For Raila, he has activated his intelligence network assembled while serving as prime minister in the grand coalition government to spy on the DP to get to know ODM members secretly meeting him and also his key financiers and supporters in government planning to sabotage the referendum to change the constitution, something of which the DP is opposed to.
The ODM leader has been pushing for an amendment to the constitution to create more seats at the top so that no tribal chief goes home empty-handed after elections. Those in the know say that Raila believes that changing the constitution to create many positions is the only weapon he has to stop Ruto becoming president.
Raila is banking on the 2018 March 9 handshake with Uhuru Kenyatta to marshal support for the initiative to pass through the legislative stages. He hopes that 24 out of the 47 county governments will approve the bill on the constitutional changes before it is tabled in both houses for ratification.
Once the bill is approved by a majority of the county assemblies, it shall be introduced in parliament where if supported by a majority of the members of each house, it shall then be submitted to the president for assent in accordance with articles 256 (4) and (5).
But Ruto is all out to ensure the 2022 polls are held under the current constitutional framework which favours him. According to insiders, Raila has planted sleuths among Ruto campaign team to get informed of what Ruto plans in Uhuru succession game plan.
Insiders well versed with the working of the DP 2022 Focus Team allude that he is aware he is being spied on and has put in place counter strategies to change the matrix.
The DP is increasingly getting jittery of the newfound camaraderie between Uhuru and Raila, for it has enabled the ODM leader to penetrate the intelligence circles to spy on him.
According to insiders, Raila has roped in State House Comptroller Kinuthia Mbugua, former presidential adviser Nancy Gitau, Interior principal secretary Karanja Kibicho and former Gatanga MP David Murathe to use their intelligence networks to spy on Ruto’s movement in and outside the country, and ultimately finish off all those supporting him.
Aware of the scheme, a furious Ruto last week confronted Kibicho at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, accusing him of spying on him and sabotaging his 2022 presidential bid.
Ruto was eventually summoned to State House to explain why he caused drama at JKIA in a near fist fight with Kibicho in what was reported as a case of extreme anger.
Seems like the DP’s fight with PS Karanja Kibicho is bringing problems in government.
DP Ruto just been called for an urgent State House meeting from Kakamega where he was going
— Robert Alai (@RobertAlai) May 17, 2019