Kibra debacle leaves sour taste in Ruto’s mouth ahead of 2022
What you need to know:
- DP is yet to recover from the loss a week later and has been sending broadsides against Raila and ODM party over ‘violence and political conmanship’.
The DP has appeared isolated since the ‘handshake’ and the Kibra by-election appeared to give him an opportunity to test his popularity in Nairobi politics.
The DP will now have to go back to the drawing board.
The hotly-contested Kibra by-election, which was presented as a test for the ‘handshake’ between President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga, has exposed the imminent realignment set to dominate politics ahead of the 2022 polls.
The seat was easily retained by ODM’s Bernard Otieno Okoth despite a spirited fight from Jubilee candidate MacDonald Mariga, who enjoyed firm support from Deputy President William Ruto.
EGG ON FACE
The ‘handshake’ survived the bruising battle but there is a clear indication things would not remain the same for major political players.
President Kenyatta gave the by-election a wide berth, presenting a chance to his close confidantes led by nominated MP Maina Kamanda to speak for him. He was only seen once with Mr Mariga when the aspirant went to State House, accompanied by Dr Ruto.
Mr Mariga’s loss left an egg on the face of the DP, who vigorously campaigned for the former Harambee Stars captain, only to end up with less than half of Mr Okoth’s votes.
A week later, Dr Ruto is still continuing with his attacks against Mr Odinga and the ODM party following the loss.
“Tinga and his party’s trail of political conmanship and deceit from Kanu, through Cord to Nasa and now heading to Jubilee, and litany of violence from ‘82 coup to Kibra cannot be hidden behind BBI.
ISOLATED
As a minimum, he must publicly renounce violence as a political tool and undertake to accept defeat,” Dr Ruto tweeted yesterday.
The DP has appeared isolated since the ‘handshake’ and the Kibra by-election appeared to give him an opportunity to test his popularity in Nairobi politics and whether he could stand on his own against a formidable team of Building Bridges Initiative supporters.
The DP will now have to go back to the drawing board. He will have to prove he is not against the ‘handshake’ as alleged by his critics.
Eldoret-based political commentator Philip Chebunet said the DP should take the loss positively and take full control of Jubilee Party.
“He should not look at it as a big loss. In fact, it has clearly emerged he is the only one interested in the survival of the party. The President appears not interested in the party anymore. He should prepare for a tough battle ahead,” he said.
COMPETITION
The DP is likely to face stiff competition from Mr Odinga, who has fallen out with his National Super Alliance (Nasa) co-principals.
Mr Musalia Mudavadi (ANC) and Mr Moses Wetang’ula (Ford-Kenya) supported different candidates during the by-election while former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper party endorsed the Ford-Kenya candidate.
However, the three Ukambani governors — Charity Ngilu (Kitui), Kivutha Kibwana (Makueni) and Dr Alfred Mutua (Machakos) — campaigned for the ODM candidate.
The three have emerged out of Mr Musyoka’s shadow and are ready to chart their own political future, which will deal a serious blow to the Wiper leader’s presidential ambitions.
