Uhuru returns to fight for heart of Jubilee as Ruto's allies plot coup

Jubilee Party Leader Former President Uhuru Kenyatta arrive at the Party Headquarters after a faction tried to take over on April 26th, 2023. [Samson Wire, Standard]

Shunned by political allies, on the verge of losing his political party and beleaguered by President William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza government, former President Uhuru Kenyatta is a man in unchartered waters.

Barely seven months after leaving office, his fortunes seem to be on the edge; suffering from the scaling down of his security, the woes in his Jubilee party that former close allies of about to wrestle it from him and now to Kenya revenue Authority (KRA) poking its nose in the Kenyatta family business, Uhuru appears to be destined for a rough five-year period.

Currently, 30 out of the 35 elected and nominated National Assembly members and senators have crossed over to support the Kenya Kwanza from the Raila Odinga-led Azimio and have sworn their allegiance to President Ruto.

After lying low for months and ignoring all manner of slander and blame against him by senior Kenya Kwanza leaders led by Ruto, Uhuru has apparently decided enough is enough.

Looking agitated, he stormed the party headquarters with alacrity this week to join a violent confrontation between a faction allied to him that has for three months been under siege against a group of Jubilee MPs supported by Kenya Kwanza.

Although the party leader has every right to defend it from unwarranted attacks, what does this ugly fight between him and a group covertly supported by his successor portend for a country that is already engulfed in a charged political atmosphere?

Former Roads minister Franklin Bett believes the fight is about Mt Kenya politics where some leaders continue whipping up anti-Uhuru sentiments but then asks if it is healthy either for the Kikuyu nation or the country.

"It looks like the factions are within the Kikuyu nation and they are fighting their own son but it is neither good for them nor for the country because Uhuru was the president of the Republic of Kenya," says Bett.

Grave ramifications

The former Comptroller of State House further argues that Uhuru is a politician and should be left alone to manage his party and be given the respect he deserves as a retired Head of State.

He hopes those fighting him realise the danger of disrespecting a retired president because they are setting a precedent that may have very grave ramifications in future.

Bett also asks politicians in government to stop discussing past failures in the Uhuru administration and instead focus on resolving them because they were done in the past but what needs to be addressed are issues facing the county now and in future.

"Jomo Kenyatta committed lots of crimes but you could not remind Moi about them. He could not allow you to do that. He could tell straight in your face, let us work," says Bett.

He also recounted that when some Narc party hawks attempted to frustrate and mistreat Moi after he retired, President Mwai Kibaki protected him, processed a title deed for his Kabarnet Gardens residence and personally delivered it to him in good gesture.

Deputy president Rigathi Gachagua and his foot soldiers Kimani Ichung'wa and Ndindi Nyoro are among Kenya Kwanza leaders who are very loudly vilifying Uhuru for all manner of challenges the current government is facing.

Uhuru appeared to be successfully calling their bluff as they mounted more tirades against him at all public functions until this week when the rival faction of Kanini Kega and Sabina Chege stormed his party to kick out Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni and his team.

Bett is happy President Ruto is now not talking about Uhuru anymore unlike his deputy and other Mt Kenya leaders.

Political analyst Martin Andati also thinks the fighting in Jubilee is escalating political temperatures in the country that could easily get to serious levels.

Public service purge

He says Uhuru and his allies are also fighting back because people he appointed in the public service and others thought to be close to him have been quickly purged and business people with government tenders also pushed out.

With nothing to lose, they are, therefore, fighting from Uhuru's corner, same to Mt Kenya tycoons who supported him and may now be warry of investing their money in the country.

On Tuesday, Jubilee vice chairman David Murathe, a close ally of the former president, announced on TV that he will be joining the Raila-led demonstrations against the government over, among others, the high cost of living, which Ruto insists he is working to bring down.

The next round of protests is slated for Tuesday, though the President has warned of drastic action to prevent destruction of business properties.

Political scientist Prof Amukowa Anangwe, however, argues that it was out of character for Uhuru to storm the party headquarters in the manner he did this week.

He says, ordinarily, the former president would not have done that but it could have emanated from his interactions with Raila because sociologists have found that such dalliance influences or shapes one's behaviour.

"His interacting with Raila has made him acquire bad manners of using goons that he either simply hired or was lent by the ODM leader to go and defy the party constitution despite the political party tribunal having pronounced itself on the matter," said Anangwe.

He reminded the former president that it is members who should decide officials to lead parties through elections and party structures and not top leadership making arbitrary decisions.

"Parties are supposed to be members' organisations but it has become a political culture in Kenya that they are owned by individuals who determine the way they are run and managed," said Anangwe.

It is also argued that at the age of 62, Uhuru could be holding onto his party with hope of running again for president in future especially because he is still the senior most Mt Kenya leader.

Comeback plan?

Anangwe, however, says although it is remotely possible that he can return in five or 10 years after holding office for two consecutive terms, he should concentrate on other issues outside politics.

"If he is hanging on the party because he thinks he can come back, then it is a pipe dream and I don't see him performing a miracle because he has lost the Mt Kenya vote," says Anangwe..

He, however, agrees it is possible Uhuru could make a comeback if for one reason or another he will still be strong but dismisses his chances, arguing that his engagement in politics could be for personal goals like security, protection of business and securing family property.

But Bett cautions that politicians demanding for Uhuru's retirement from politics are misguided because nothing stops him from coming back again as provided for in the law.

"He can stay away one term or two terms and then contest because there is nowhere in law where it says a former president cannot come back again and contest for the presidency," adds Bett.

He cites the case of President Franklin D Roosevelt (FDR), the 32nd president of United States who served his two terms and later won another election as an example of what can happen.

Kenya Kwanza politicians such as Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei have in the past demanded that Uhuru's retirement package be withheld because the Retirement Benefits Act prohibits retired presidents from engaging in active politics.

Prof Gitile Naituli, who teaches governance and management at Multi Media University, however, states that whereas retired presidents are barred from enjoying the perks if they engage in politics, that Act can be challenged in court.

He argues that the Act is in violation of Article 38 of the Constitution, which gives the right to association because once out of office, presidents become ordinary citizens and automatically fall under Article 27 that provides for their equal treatment before the law.

"You cannot deny an ordinary citizen his right to associate and so, that section is unconstitutional but it has also been violated by Raila, Kalonzo Musyoka and Musalia Mudavadi who have been enjoying the money after leaving office while getting actively involved in running their political parties," says Naituli.

Leeway

Thirty Jubilee MPs led by Kega, Chege and Aden Keynan recently met President Ruto and his deputy at State House where they declared their support for the Kenya Kwanza government side in Parliament.

But as things stand, Uhuru's position as party leader is not threatened because both factions are calling on him to resolve the standoff although he is adamant that those who want to leave should do so.

Anangwe, however, argues that the rebels must choose either to work with Uhuru or replace him as the party leader because if they continue giving him reverence, the more leeway he has to meddle with their chances of taking over Jubilee.

"Neither the courts nor the police have power to enforce whatever orders are made and so they should be aware that it is the meddling of either side which will shape the leadership of that party," says Anangwe.