Is President Uhuru Kenyatta Popularity in Own Backyard in Jeopardy?

President Uhuru Kenyatta is threatened by dwindling popularity in his own backyard as he gazes 2022 retirement. His ‘golden handshake’ with Raila Odinga seems to have hurt Uhuru's reputation in his region. Betrayal tag is engrossed on his mien. 

Why BBI is Key to both Uhuru and Raila

The unconventional BBI goodies to ‘bribe’ the political class seem to have a negative imprint to the suffering masses, majority of who are business class people drawn from Uhuru’s Central region. The Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) might not, seemingly, shroud the sense of rejection, for the great person that was once labeled as ‘Kamwana.’

The prerogative of any worthy government is to advance the interest of the nation. Has the Kenyan President been able to do something good to unite the entire nation? Why is his handshake sending shockwaves to his deputy?

To Uhuru, BBI will be his last political arsenal, before he exits the national stage. To his so-called brother Raila, BBI will be a litmus test for the 2022 presidential stab. BBI Bill will have to pass at all costs. 

The president is finding it hard to balance between being Raila’s friend and attracting the passion of Central region and the Rift Valley region that overwhelmingly supported him.

Ruto’s Intrusion

The falling apart between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto sent the vote-rich Central region to the drawing board. The region was divided into two factions. A sizeable number of Central Kenya politicians chose to advance Ruto’s political endeavors.

Uhuru was irked by the intrusion and termed it as a sabotage of his government’s programmes with early campaigns. The president was forced to hold a series of meeting with leaders from the Mt Kenya region and stamped authority that led to the irresistible passage of BBI bill in all the Mt Kenya counties.

Across the country, only a few counties that are allied to Ruto rejected the 2020 Constitution of Amendment Bill. 

On February 2020, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria, a Ruto ally, accused Uhuru of suppressing upcoming political leaders from Mt Kenya region. 

Is Uhuru in control?

Uhuru was once captured saying that he was in full control of the government. Who was this guy that was threatening the Commander in Chief to the point of shouting it on media to prove that he was in charge? 

Unlike his predecessor Mwai Kibaki, the incumbent wants to actively take part in his own succession. During the burial of Kalonzo Musyoka’s father at Mwingi, the president told mourners that the person he will prefer as his successor will be a shocker to many.

As 2022 draws nigh, there are emerging many speculations of who will be the preferred-heir-to-the-throne. The handshake and BBI issue made Kenyans believe that he will support Raila. It was just hot air! Uhuru was once forced to convince people from his backyard that BBI had nothing to do with 2022 succession.

Then there emerged a rumor that Uhuru will endorse former UNCTAD secretary general Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi. Since then, there have been a few more contradicting speculations. The launch of One Kenya Alliance was thought to have had Uhuru’s blessing, with a number of political pundits, alluding that Musalia Mudavadi might be the surprise endorsement from the State.

Senate Minority Leader James Orengo once accused a cabal of senior civil servants, alleging that they were pursuing for succession politics, instead of advancing the BBI course. Interior principal secretary Karanja Kibicho was linked to skewing towards a Mudavadi presidency.

When it was evident that the handshake was vulnerable, there were murmurs that Raila was working on an alliance with Ruto. In an interview with one of the local radio stations, the deputy president disclosed that he was willing to work with any like-minded Kenyan, including his political nemeses.

The ‘Deep State’ was awakened by the behind-the-curtain scenes, forcing the president to invite the just recuperated Odinga and do some inspection of City projects initiated by the Nairobi Metropolitan services (NMS).

In what was dubbed as the ‘handshake parade’ pacified the simmering cold war pitting Raila’s allies against the protégés of Uhuru. Was the handshake parade a mere public relations gimmick? How urgent was the inspection to the point of forcing Raila out of isolation after contracting Covid-19?

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