It is emerging that a section of Mt Kenya politician are jostling for the running mate position, something that is threatening to divide Ruto’s support base.
It is no longer a secret that the Deputy President is one of the frontline presidential contenders seeking to succeed Uhuru Kenyatta. Uhuru and Ruto are no longer reading from the same script, and the president is irked by recent losses in by-elections, where Jubilee candidates were floored by UDA, PEP and ODM.
It’s believed that UDA is the party that Ruto will use to contest for 2022 presidential elections. Regions where Ruto’s support is gaining traction as attracted a pattern of leaders trying to outshine each other to attract the DP’s attention.
Moses Kuria’s little known People’s Empowerment Party (PEP) humiliated Jubilee when its candidate George Koimburi clinched the Juja Parliamentary Seat. Moses Kuria, flanked by other Ruto allies from Central celebrated Juja’s win.
Kuria’s win in Juja opened a new can of worms. With another by-election looming in the neighboring Kiambaa constituency, both UDA and PEP are jostling for the seat. A faction of Ruto’s allies is against Kuria’s surging popularity in the region and wants to reverse his popularity by popularizing the UDA candidate.
Kiambaa elections will be held on July and PEP’s candidate will be Raymond Kuria Mwaura. The slogan there is, ‘Kuria na Kuria’. Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria is proving to be a politician driven by his own agenda, ready to carve his own political niche, devoid of any external manipulation.
UDA’s candidate for the Kiambaa mini poll is John Njuguna. In defending his move, Kuria urged UDA not to be uncomfortable with PEP candidates. DP Ruto has maintained a studios silence over the arising cracks in his camp.
Unlike many Tangatanga politicians who are rudderless and clueless, Kuria is a political strategist who is ready to take the highest possible risk. He is the MP for the president of Kenya and has taken the audacious step to criticize the government, without attracting the wrath of his constituents.
There seems to be an internal power struggle between Moses Kuria and Mathira legislator Rigathi Gachagua, each one of them want to be a ‘Hustler’ ambassador in Mt Kenya. The win in the last by-election has given Kuria an edge over his rivals.
Nakuru County is split between Senator Susan Kihika and Bahati MP Kimani Ngujiri who are both ardent stalwarts of the Deputy President. Ngujiri supported BBI Bill as a protest to his own political affiliation.
Unlike UDA that has only won ward seats, PEP was the first Ruto allied Party to win a parliamentary seat. The win has created another battle for supremacy as other Ruto allies from Central treat Kuria as a ticking time bomb.
Jubilee linked its loss to endorsement of unpopular candidates. Jubilee Party Secretary General Raphael Tuju connected the loss to voter apathy.
Moses Kuria's PEP Party withdraws from Kiambaa by-election in favor of UDA candidate.
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