This archive report was first published on 24 July 2019.
As Kenya heads into the 2022 general elections, Deputy President William Ruto has been growing increasingly bold in his defiance of President Uhuru Kenyatta's authority. This open challenge to the President's leadership did not start yesterday, but rather dates back to when President Kenyatta decided to wage a fierce war on graft, a move that Ruto and his allies saw as a strategy aimed at blocking him from succeeding Kenyatta in 2022.
According to sources, the Uhuru-Ruto rift started immediately after the pair was sworn in for their second term, with Ruto's team kicking off succession politics. This move did not go down well with President Kenyatta, who responded by saying that he does not have a specific successor and that his choice for 2022 will shock many, both friends and foes.
Months later, President Kenyatta grew even bolder, telling Ruto-allied politicians to stop loitering around and get back to work. Despite this, Ruto continued to mobilize his troops, forming Team Tanga Tanga to counter any attacks on the presidency. The two teams have been going back and forth at each other, tearing the Jubilee Party right in the middle and pundits say, the ruling party is no more.
With the growing unease and discomfort between Uhuru and Ruto, the Deputy President has grown much bolder and aggressive against President Kenyatta. When the President said he has faith in all institutions tasked with fighting graft, Ruto came out to rubbish him, saying the DCI and DPP have no mandate to fight corruption and that they are being used to fight him politically.
On July 24, 2019, the launch of Huduma Namba was absconded, adding to the list of open defiance DP Ruto continues to show on his boss. He does not care anymore and nothing seems to shake him. Ruto has drawn a line in the sand, and he is ready for battle.
