After months of trying to evade discussions on the ongoing wrangles in their party, Deputy President William Ruto has finally admitted that the ruling party Jubilee is in a turmoil.
In a public admission which is likely to have far-reaching political implications, Ruto on Tuesday acknowledged there is a rift in Jubilee pointing fingures at the two warring groups inside the party, Kieleweke and Tanga-tanga.
Ruto observed that the ongoing misunderstandings between the two camps have been brought by non-Jubilee individuals who are pushing for a referendum something he termed as “cheap politics and personal interest”.
“Yes, there is a rift in Jubilee fuelled by political factions, some for ‘Punguza Mzigo’ and others for ‘Ongeza Mzigo’ initiatives. All these confusions have brought trouble in Jubilee,” he remarked
He was addressing mourners at Athi in Igembe South, where he attended the burial of Meru Senator Mithika Linturi’s father.
The self-proclaimed hustler warned that President Uhuru Kenyatta-led ruling party was losing its initial track and direction over what he termed as invasion by outsiders.
The admission is the first by the DP, who has maintained that all was well within the ruling party, despite the glaring intra-party factional fights with Members of Parliament and other political leaders split on either pro-Uhuru or Ruto lines.
The two opposing groups inside the party, Tanga-tanga, which is drumming up support for William Ruto’s 2022 presidential bid and Kieleweke, which is supporting the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM party leader Raila Odinga have been clashing in public with each accusing the other of undermining the party.
Kieleweke has accused their rivals of defying the President’s order on DP’s pre-mature campaigns.
Ruto’s unexpected confessions came after Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi claimed the ruling party was “already in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and needed urgent medical attention to save it from death”.
He, however, promised to re-unite Jubilee and ensure the party stays strong saying no one would be allowed to interfere with its agenda for Kenyans.
“I want to ask leaders including my brother Governor Kiraitu not to lose hope in the party because the small issues will be sorted out,” assured Ruto.
In an apparent reference to ODM leader Raila Odinga, Ruto accused some outsiders of bringing confusion to the party through the introduction of referendum debates.
“You all know what is happening on matters of Constitution. The champions of change of Constitution are known. This is not a business of Jubilee but other people who are well known to Kenyans,” he added
He insisted that the calls for a change of the Constitution would not deter Jubilee from implementing its development agenda for Kenyans.