By Anderson Ojwang
The return match between President Ruto and his former boss Uhuru Kenyatta is boiling out nicely in what can be termed as a revenge mission.
The cold war burst open last Friday, when the former president in Kirinyaga County once again spoke to his community, Mt Kenya, on the 2027 political direction they should take.
Last Sunday, Ruto responded to his former boss, saying he was chosen by God and that his advice will not matter in 2027 and that the will of God will prevail.
Ruto responded to Uhuru’s last Friday speech to his native Mt Kenya community over the 2022 warning not to elect Ruto and now asked them to listen to the leaders and to the ground in their future political move.
Last Friday, in Kirinyaga, during the burial of former senator David Karaba, Uhuru 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, Rigathi 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 where Uhuru’s political destination was.
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.
On Sunday, Ruto responded by saying he was chosen by God and he was least perturbed by Uhuru’s advice.
“What you said is yours, and the will of God shall prevail. There are people who think their love is God’s love,” he said.
Ruto said Kenyans were not interested in long lectures from the political class on the choice of leadership, saying leaders are chosen by God.
“They give long lectures, that I said this and that. What you said is yours. What will happen is God’s love. Are there leaders elected by mistake or bad luck? Any elected leadership is anointed by God. That is why even if you advise, you will not decide who is elected, but God will. Even if you advise on what leaders to be elected, it is God who will decide. That is the truth as it is,” he said.
Ruto said in the 2022 general elections, some people did not expect him to win the presidency but by God’s grace he won.
“In 2022, many didn’t believe it could happen, but God had planned. In 2027, God will plan how it shall unfold. What I am asking Kenyans is to be peaceful and vote. The rest leave to God,” he said.
But former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua said God sometimes anoints bad leaders to be elected as a lesson to the rebelling society.
Quoting from the book of 1 Samuel 8, God warned the Israelites of the dangers of having a king but they did not listen, and that is why God allowed a bad king to be chosen and they suffered the consequences.
“I have seen Ruto speak in the church against Uhuru Kenyatta, saying Uhuru made a mistake by asking us to be wary of him. God also chooses bad leaders to be a lesson to his rebelling people so that they know their mistake. 1 Samuel 8. God permitted what the people insisted on even if it is not his perfect will. That is the situation Kenya finds herself in,” he said.
ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga also waded into the fray and asked Uhuru what wrong Ruto committed against him that he cannot forgive.
“The other day, we saw our elder brother, who was also the president of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta. He said Kenyans made a mistake, that is okay. My question, Uhuru, what wrong did President Ruto do to you? Kindly elect to inform us so that we may understand. What is it that he did so wrong that you can never forgive him for?” she said.
Wanga also claimed Uhuru ‘cheated’ ODM on the presidency and failed to deliver the sword.
“We walked with you waiting for leadership and it never came. We waited for the sword until the cows returned home,” she said.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale also criticized Uhuru and Gachagua over their attack on Ruto, saying they have resorted to speaking in their mother tongue for political convenience.
“When Uhuru and Riggy speak in their mother tongue, they are defending their community. Uhuru, we gave you 10 years and you went back to Mt Kenya to speak in your mother tongue. No problem. Advocate for your community. I will defend Ruto in the morning, lunchtime and in the evening. I believe in Ruto’s leadership,” he said.
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.
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.
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.
Political analyst Herman 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.
