Ruto threatens a Jubilee mass walk out as Raila flies overseas to evade lobbyists –

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Lobbying in corridors of power is in top gear following the release a circular sending all Cabinet Secretaries, the Attorney General, Principal Secretaries and Accounting Officers on compulsory leave.

Sources told Kenyan News Day that the circular had triggered an unprecedented frenzy in both sides of the political divide with observers widely predicting a reshuffle that would have corrupt officials sent home creating room for new officials drawn from Raila Odinga’s National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition.

At the same time, we reliably learnt that Deputy President William Ruto had openly opposed plans to dissolve cabinet and threatened to walk out of the Jubilee Government together with his allies should President Uhuru Kenyatta unilaterally reconstitute cabinet including the allies of Raila Odinga.

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As this happened, NASA Leader Raila Odinga is reported to have flown in from Nigeria and quietly flown out again to unknown destination together with his family for Christmas holidays. A source told Kenyan News Day, Raila was characteristically avoiding hoards of allies and associates who had inundated him with calls and appeals to be considered for positions in government.

Back to the unprecedented circular which was issued and signed by Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua on Dec 18, it instructed all the senior government officials to proceed on leave from Friday December 21st to Monday 7th January next year. Only one senior officer is required to be nominated to remain in office during this period.

The circular which barred the same officials from proceeding overseas indicated that the leave which gave no option of a decline was to give the officials time to spend Christmas with their families and loved ones.

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We reliably learnt that members of cabinet, their Past and Accounting Officers have never been asked to proceed on leave formally. As per the regulations of the public service, they normally come for clearances from Kinyua’s office which also clears those who want to travel out of the country.

But pundits saw this as a red herring intended to calm Cabinet Secretaries and other officials and make them drop their guard without any anticipation of being fired or arrested over the long holidays.

Ever since Uhuru and Raila unveiled a surprise peace deal at the entrance of Harambee House on March 30th, the two former bitter rivals have formed a close friendship which a source at State House told us involved daily consultations as well as family visits.

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This closeness has inevitably led to suspicion from Ruto and his allies who feel that they may be losers at the expense of Rails and his allies.

An outright firing of cabinet may have caused political upheavals and in some instances a constitutional crisis which State House is keen to avoid.

Tensions have been simmering within government circles for the better part of the year over the fight against grand corruption which Ruto and his allies feel is one sided and only targeting those aligned to him.

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