The simmering political tensions between President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua have gone to the wire.
Analysts say it was a matter of when, not if, the two political giants would tear each other apart in under two years into their presidency.
The gloves are off. At the weekend, Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, a close ally of Ruto, told off Gachagua for suggesting that a clique of Ruto allies were scheming to divide the Mt Kenya region ahead of 2027.Mr Gachagua, perhaps tired of pretending all is well, came out days earlier to blame ‘a few MPs with proximity to the President’ for the simmering tensions.”All is well between me and the president. He has given me work to do.
The little problems you see are caused by a few elements who have grown horns because of their proximity to the president,” the DP said.Speaking during a women and youth empowerment event in Kesses constituency, Uasin Gishu, Gachagua claimed millions of shillings were being spent to hire choppers for meetings in Central, even as the ordinary citizens lacked resources.
Mr Gachagua sent tongues wagging after he skipped 11 State functions, with credible sources saying he retreated to his Nyeri home and switched off his phones vowing to take the battle to Ruto’s door step.Even as Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua hinted that his political detractors are people close to Ruto, his allies now claim there is a plot to slash his budget by 25 per cent.
The political scheming, according to Gachagua’s foot soldiers, seeks to reduce the budget of the Office of the Deputy President with the intention of crippling the ‘truthful’ man and making him a toothless dog.
Political analyst Paul Okinyi said what’s happening mirrors the situation in 2027 where political schmeners in Rift Valley and the Mt Kenya region will spare no effort in outdoing each other.”It is over between the two giants. The sign of fire is smoke,” said Mr Okinyi.