By Anderson Ojwang
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta finally has a date for a rematch and revenge against his former deputy, ally and turned bitter rival, President William Ruto.
President Ruto in the 2022 presidential election bulldozed his way into Mt Kenya to deny Uhuru’s candidate, the Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate, the late Raila Amolo Odinga, the Mt Kenya vote to ride into victory.
Ruto and his allies led by former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua marshalled a high-voltage campaign to lock out Uhuru and Raila from Mt Kenya and delivered a humbling and humiliating defeat to the then president.
And now, Uhuru is back for a rematch and a revenge mission. On Friday he returned to Mt Kenya and subtly gave direction to the community on its future political dispensation.
The message was delivered both orally, in coded form and through public postures, when he engaged his former personal assistant and foe, Gachagua, in animated moments, shared pleasantries, laughed and joked.
That was the non-verbal coded message to the community on the new-found unity, friendship and a path for the region as they head to the 2027 general elections.
The presence of opposition leaders in the region, the first of its kind in years, was a clear indication of Uhuru’s political destination.
Uhuru turned to his native Kikuyu language to deliver the pregnant, loaded message and used the DCP party slogan “Sikiza ground” to pass the information to the community.
Siaya Governor James Orengo said Kenyans were in the problem they are currently in because the people of Mt Kenya refused to listen to Uhuru.
“I like speaking the truth. If you had listened to Uhuru Kenyatta, we would not be in this problem. Karua would be president today. It is good to listen. I come here as a friend,” he said.
Uhuru, taking over from Orengo, told the community to listen to what the leaders tell them and that is why he was in Ichaweri listening to the ground.
Uhuru revisited why he supported the late Raila Odinga in the 2022 general election and the dream they had for the country, but was let down after the community fell into the trap of sweet and smooth talkers.
“Raila and I wanted to unite the country, to be governed by policies and principles. Do not fall for sweet and smooth talkers. Listen to the leaders and to the ground,” he said.
Uhuru told the community never again shall they fall prey to sweet talkers but must listen to what the community leaders say.
“I am listening to the ground from Ichaweri. In future you must listen to what you are told,” he said.
New dispensation in Mt Kenya
Gachagua apologized to Uhuru and the community for misleading them and blamed President Ruto for allegedly sowing seeds of discord in the community.
“They say Uhuru cannot work with Riggy. You think you are one of us. You don’t know us. We are a family and Uhuru is my elder brother,” he said.
Gachagua said he diligently served Uhuru as a personal assistant and highly respects him.
“I have been Uhuru’s personal assistant. I have worked with him for 20 years. We only differed for three years. It is you who divided us. You came with a bible and conned us. I blame myself. I misled my people. I want to tell our people that we must be very smart not to allow Ruto to divide us along Mt Kenya East and West. I cannot allow him. Kikuyu and Meru are one community,” he said.
Numbers against Ruto in Mt Kenya
In the 2022 presidential elections in Kirinyaga, Ruto got 84 percent of the votes, accounting for 220,752 votes, while Raila got a paltry 14 percent, accounting for 37,978 votes.
In Kiambu county, the home ground of President Uhuru, Ruto managed 72.9 percent of the votes, amounting to 606,105 votes, while Raila only managed 25 percent, accounting for 210,495 votes.
Again in Nyeri county, Raila’s village, Ruto received 82.79 percent of the votes, amounting to 272,577 votes, while Raila got 15.3 percent, accounting for 52,043 votes.
Finally, in Murang’a, Ruto got 81 percent of the votes, accounting for 343,421, while Raila got a paltry 17 percent, which accounted for 73,539 votes.
With the new-found unity in Mt Kenya of Uhuru, Gachagua, Martha Karua, JB Muturi among others, will Ruto be able to change the tide and run away with a huge vote chunk? Will the numbers add up? The rubber meets the road for Ruto in Mt Kenya.
Shift in Mt Kenya
Political analyst Herman Manyora argued that Uhuru Kenyatta is making it clear that he is not supporting William Ruto and the guesswork no longer exists.
“Speaking to his people in his language, Uhuru Kenyatta did not have very kind words for his successor William Ruto. The fact that he used the DCP symbol, demonstrating it with the ear on the ground, indicates to the community and Kenyans that there is a major shift happening in the mountain,” he argued.
Manyora said the mountain seems to be in agreement that there is a major need to unite, and this should worry William Ruto.
“That unity is for the purpose of ensuring that President William Ruto is not re-elected. That was a big and earth-shaking moment in Kirinyaga. That we now know that Uhuru would not want to see Ruto re-elected,” he said.
Manyora said it was crystal clear that Uhuru has come out to play his role in the 2027 presidential election.
“That whatever it takes, Uhuru will play his role in uniting the region. He will work with Gachagua and everyone else to deliver the mountain to the opposition and deny Ruto the votes he so much desires to win the elections,” he said.
Uhuru is on the lookout for a formidable candidate with the capacity to face Ruto in the elections and will stop at nothing.
“It would appear that Uhuru Kenyatta is determined, if you look at the body language and packaging of his messages. He seems to be a man on a revenge mission. He wants a rematch with William Ruto. He comes out clearly that Uhuru actually supported Raila and that he was not happy with the loss. Uhuru is looking for a candidate with capacity and ability to face William Ruto,” he said.
