Ruto BBI strategy surprises Uhuru – Weekly Citizen

Politics surrounding Building Bridges Initiative is getting murkier and dirtier as legislators and political players allied to DP William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga engage in a show of might to outsmart and undo each other.

Political witchhunt and machinations is the latest strategy in the fray as the power to be, seems to be marshaling all resources in a push for the drive.

Ruto’s team has thrown the spanner in the works after declaring to join the BBI team at the eleventh hour – a move seen as a counter strategy to subdue the main BBI team. The Ruto team was in Mama Ngina Drive water front rally in Mombasa.

The retreat strategy to join the initiative campaign is said to have scuttled the Raila team and are back on the drawing board to devise a new gameplan. The gameplan is to fight your enemy from within not outside as you protect areas seen to your political bedroom. Ruto strategists believe Rift Valley and Central are key zones to protect during BBI rallies and if pro-Raila side is allowed to control it will be suicidal politically.

Aware that Ruto’s camp wants to hijack rallies in Rift Valley and Central, a counter gameplan has been devised.

Gideon Moi

To lock Ruto out in Central and not to be seen as fighting Uhuru Kenyatta, the president has been mandated to take charge of Central province and entire Mount Kenya region. It however remains to be seen how Uhuru will face his backyard where rebellion is brewing with songs sang to castigate his administration. One song says the administration is oppressive just like the colonial administration and that those in power are teaching their children how to oppress the poor people’s children in future.

The singer curses those in power saying that they will be falling sick and going on their own feet to India for treatment but return in coffin. Another says that the people are not happy with state of the economy and politics after being told to come out to defeat muguruki only for them to later see Uhuru shaking hands with muguruki.

Uhuru with governors Kiraitu Murungi and Anne Waiguru are to officiate at rallies in Embu, Meru, Nakuru, Suswa and Kiambu.

Reports indicate that majority leader, Aden Duale, who is in Ruto’s camp wanted to control the Eastern rally but he has been sidelined in favour of governors and MPs allied to handshake deal. Duale, it is whispered, is set to be summoned by anti-graft agencies to answer questions in multimillion shillings Geothermal Authority scandals.

Pro-Ruto team has faulted the Raila-led BBI team for attacking Ruto in the guise of selling the plebiscite details to the public.

Led by majority leader in the senate Kipchumba Murkomen, the leaders faulted the BBI team for leading a clandestine mission using the referendum push.

He further alleged that the team is keen to introduce concealed elements in the draft to suit the top leadership.

Murkomen and the team have vowed to take them on from the inside the BBI team to frustrate the alleged secret agenda.

Last week, Sirisia MP led the renegade team in a parallel rally in Mumias as Raila drummed support for BBI in Bukhungu stadium.

The team had lined up an economic turn-around debate strategy in the sugarcane sector at the backdrop of Uhuru’s multibillion boost to the coffee and tea sector in his Mount Kenya home turf a week ago.

The intelligence is said to have briefed the president of the repercussions of that meeting if allowed to go on.

Uhuru is said to have phoned Ford Kenya Party leader Moses Wetang’ula and his ANC counterpart Musalia Mudavadi, pleading with them to attend the Bukhungu meeting.

A source well placed at State House now aver that the Waluke-Mumias led team has yielded fruits after the president ordered for government officials to visit sugar mills with a view of pumping money to rescue the industry and silence the storm.

Waluke

The president is said to be keen with Western in a bid to support the report after a rapid penetration of Ruto brigade in the region.

A host of MPs allied to the DP have, however, faced the wrath after members of their team were stripped off their security.

Renegade legislators from Uhuru’s turf have been hit hard after their constituencies have been probed on CDF project’s integrity with a view of initiating trial against them.

Controversial MP Alice Wahome is facing a trial after going vocal against the president.

Waluke is said to be the second in line with a number of strategy to cut his horns put in play.

Waluke is said to have been a key subject of discussion in the secret BBI team appointed by secret state operatives.

His High Court matter in Nairobi involving his company — Erad Supplies and General Contracts Ltd is said to have dominated talks and the immediate target.

The case that is ongoing in court is said to be the latest bombshell in the strategy that could be used to de-horn the fiery legislator who led ODM ouster in Bungoma after ditching Raila for Uhuru in the last polls.

Kuria

Word is going round that instructions has been given to the players handling the case with a view of seeking nothing less than a conviction against the legislator.

Back to Ruto strategists, MPs allied to him have been holding secret talks and even one planned after the Mombasa rally following day in Naivasha to brainstorm what happened in Mombasa BBI rally to see if they continue attending the rallies or not. Many were of the opinion, to avoid being seen as abandoning Uhuru, they move to continue attending such rallies were necessary as they had been allowed to speak and not locked out. However others were of the opinion, they should avoid the rallies and give their input during the Yusuf Haji-led panel sittings to avoid confrontation. Those of the idea say, tactical retreat is the best in any fight.

Already Kericho senator Aaron Cheruiyot has come out to say that Ruto’s camp made a dramatic U-turn on BBI.

Cheruiyot said they realised by continuing opposing BBI they were annoying Uhuru and risked attracting his wrath.

Ruto allies aver that BBI meetings in Kisii and Kakamega were used by ODM leader Raila and his allies to vilify the DP.

Cherargei

From Mombasa, Ruto allies will attend all these rallies and also organise in their strongholds such as Kericho, Nakuru, Eldoret, Western, North Eastern, Eastern and parts of the Coast region. Sources say that to be seen sober minded and out to unite Kenyans as per BBI ideals, they will preach peace and stop attacking opponents in regions they control to allow Kenyans differentiate genuine BBI faces and power brokers.

Wetangula

Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tanui Tolgos is key man and BBI face in the region on the handshake side. Tolgos has claimed to get directions from Uhuru and Raila. BBI meetings will be held in Elgeyo Marakwet County. Former Governor Isaac Ruto is the face in Kipsigis politics with Senator Gideon Moi in Baringo.