Even as the scramble for KRA top seat enters its homestretch, details reveal that out of the final five shortlisted candidates, none comes from Deputy President William Ruto’s backyard.
The initial list had 30 applicants but the shortlisted five are Duncan Otieno Onduru, James Githii Mburu, Julius Waita Mwatu, Richard Boro Ndungu and Anrew Kazora Okello.
From the look of things, a Kikuyu or a Luo is likely to land the slot and neither a Kalenjin nor a Luhya has been shortlisted. In the gender biased list, Mt. Kenya has two names in the final list, same as the Nyanza region while there is one Kamba candidate.
Insiders say Mburu is likely to succeed Njiraini, as he has been groomed.
Analysts are quick to point out that the handshake deal between President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition chief Raila Odinga is seen to be working and now spreading to prestigious parastatals in the country with allied of the two leaders being appointed for plum positions.
Earlier this month, Ruto and his allies were also among losers in fresh parastatal and board appointments, as President Uhuru Kenyatta moved to calm his Central Kenya base. Team “Kieleweke” were slated for plum appointments, where tens of them were tapped to run key State institutions.
Supporters of the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga, including Kanu and Wiper, are among the major beneficiaries of the appointments, which political watchers say may have a bearing on succession politics.
Most of the positions being filled were once occupied by individuals perceived to be allied to Ruto, piling more political pressure on the DP and his allies in government. This clearly shows the crack that is seriously developing between William Ruto and his boss Uhuru Kenyatta.