This archive report was first published on 30 June 2019.
Published on June 30, 2019, the sensational claim about a plot to 'assassinate' Deputy President William Ruto has sparked intense debate in Kenya's political landscape.
As the second in command after the President, any threat to his life is extremely sensitive and requires utmost attention.
However, the claims must be viewed within the context of the prevailing rivalry in the ruling Jubilee Party and in relation to President Uhuru Kenyatta's succession in 2022.
Two camps with diametrically opposed views have emerged in Jubilee – 'Tangatanga', which coalesces around Mr Ruto, and 'Kieleweke' that roots for President Kenyatta.
Despite repeated denials about division, the chasm within Jubilee is intensifying by the day, linked to ethnic and regional alignments.
Specifically, claims that top government officials from Mt Kenya region have been meeting and plotting to eliminate Mr Ruto are quite grave, which is why the matter must be thoroughly investigated.
At the Cabinet level, the situation may create paralysis, making it incomprehensible how the DP will relate with the CSs and Principal Secretaries accused of scheming against him.
The Cabinet operates on the principle of collective responsibility, which presupposes unity of purpose, sorely shaky in the current environment.
Unless the matter is quickly resolved, the situation may get worse, and the government is at risk of crumbling.
Without harmony in the Cabinet and the ruling party, the government cannot deliver on its development programme, and the country is grappling with corruption, which requires singular commitment.
Kenya has a long history of unresolved political assassinations, hence the claims cannot be taken lightly.
It is incumbent on President Kenyatta to tackle the discontent within the Cabinet and the party, bringing an end to the endless bickering within the Cabinet and party.
