A recent turn of events in Rift Valley politics suggests that Deputy President William Ruto may have misread the signs of the times. His delayed response to the onslaught by Isaac Ruto, Governor of Bomet, has proven costly, challenging Ruto’s dominance in the region.
Gideon Moi and his party, Kanu, have also made significant inroads in the region, potentially altering the political landscape. The rise of Gideon Moi has thrown a spanner in the works, and it appears that the battles led by Isaac Ruto and John Lonyangapuo, the senator for West Pokot, could be connected to machinations by Gideon Moi.
Jubilee Party Response ¶
Meanwhile, Jubilee Party officials, including Secretary General Veronica Maina and Head of the Secretariat Raphael Tuju, have announced that they will not accept small parties supporting President Kenyatta’s re-election while fielding candidates for other elective positions. This move has been questioned, with some arguing that the party should either accommodate smaller parties or completely annihilate them.
The proponents of a single party to support President Kenyatta’s re-election often cite the example of Mwai Kibaki’s re-election without a majority in Parliament. However, this argument misses two key points: the presence of "Kibaki Tena" MPs on the government side and the role of smaller parties in mobilizing support for Kibaki.
Way Forward for Jubilee ¶
To move forward, Jubilee should avoid high-handedness and negotiate with smaller parties to generate a unity of purpose. By riding on the popularity of these small parties, Jubilee can mobilize voters across regions while agreeing not to field candidates in areas where a split vote could lead to a loss.
