Succession Politics: Friends to Foes

Politics in Kenya may be taking  a shift that may make more divisions in the country. Events in the last few months have turned friends to foes as former enemies turned to be first class friends. To fuel this, details have emerged that ODM leader Raila Odinga may receive an endorsement from  some Kikuyu elders today (Friday). This endorsement might see him receive support from GEMA community in the coming 2022 elections.

Newspapers have it that the President held a cabinet meeting that included ODM leader, Raila Odinga but excluded DP Ruto. In the meeting, the president allegedly to have kicked out his DP. However, Ruto has dismissed these claims.

Things started taking a new direction shortly after the famous handshake between President Uhuru and the then NASA leader, Raila Odinga. Well, the handshake cooled down the country from the prevalent political temparature then. However, the handshake created a small flame that has since grown into an inferno.

Friends turn Foes as Foes turn Friends

Shortly after the handshake, a few leaders realized that they had been played foul. Eventually, the then NASA coalition became defunct and it’s principals moved back to their individual parties. Jubilee party also received its first blow. It’s politicians divided into Tangatanga and Kieleweke rifts. These groups supported DP Ruto and President Uhuru respectively. Betrayal started here.

In the past few years, Tangatanga leaders have slowly suffered exclusion in Jubilee Party. Changes in Parliamentary leadership saw former Senate Majority  leader Kipchumba Murkomen lose his seat to Samuel Poghisio. Eventually, more changes had most Tangatanga leaders lose their positions in parliamentary committees.

On the other side, Pro-Tangatanga cabinet secretaries also lost their seats. Notably, former CS Mwangi Kiunjuri had to move back to his grassroots in Laikipia. He eventually formed another party, TSP. The remaining cabinet also shunned DP Ruto, with some going further to refer to his as a clerk to the President.

Recently, Jubilee Party chairman Rafael Tuju banned DP Ruto from accessing the party headquarters. Consequently, Ruto was alienated from a party in which he is the deputy party leader.

Moving forward, ODM leader Raila Odinga appears to receive more accommodation in the government than Ruto. President Uhuru might be grooming him to be his successor in 2022 elections. Well, in politics, they say, there are no permanent friends or enemies. Time will tell.