This archive report was first published on 14 July 2019.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has been receiving intelligence briefs on Deputy President William Ruto's plan to leave Jubilee Party, a move that has been in the works for some time.
According to sources, Ruto's strategy is to weaken the party from within, making it easier for him to exit when the time is right. This plan is reminiscent of his departure from ODM in 2012.
As confirmed by Raphael Tuju, Secretary General of Jubilee Party, President Kenyatta has been confiding in ODM leader Raila Odinga for political capital, given the impending mass walkout by Ruto.
On July 13, 2019, Tuju stated, 'Any mobilisation against a tribe is not welcome in my scheme of thought. Right now the President is talking about the Big Four agenda plus fighting corruption and uniting the country and Raila is the interlocutor with the president as far as this is concerned.'
He also emphasized the importance of inclusion, saying, 'Inclusion does not mean exclusion of some people. There is enough space for all of us in this country. And anybody trying to say that because there is inclusion of Luos, Kalenjins are going to be marginalised is fear mongering.'
Today's open attack on Tuju by Ruto is a clear indication of his aggressive and bold approach to dismantling the party. With this latest development, it is highly unlikely that Raphael Tuju or President Uhuru Kenyatta will convene a Jubilee Party General Meeting anytime soon.
Gatundu MP Moses Kuria captured the situation in his tweet response to Ruto, saying, 'Dear my good friend Deputy President William Ruto. Jubilee went into political bankruptcy on the 9th of March 2018. The nature and configuration of Kenya's politics forced us into Article 11 Bankruptcy. Raphael Tuju is only a Receiver-Manager. Don't attack the messenger please.'
DP Ruto responded with a tweet, saying, 'So our democracy is so liberal that the SG of the ruling party has become the chief strategist of the opposition!! Maajabu.'
