Former West Pokot Senator Samuel Poghisio has offered a fresh perspective on the political rivalry between former President Uhuru Kenyatta and President William Ruto, arguing that their fallout began long before the current debate over opposition unity.
Poghisio, reflecting on the relationship between the two leaders, recalled that Uhuru and Ruto were once close political allies who worked together during their first term in government before their relationship deteriorated during their second term.
According to the former senator, the divisions that eventually weakened the Jubilee administration were already visible within the ruling coalition, with competing political factions emerging and struggling for influence.
"Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto were great buddies in their first term, but things fell apart midway through the second term. The ruling side split into Tanga Tanga and Kieleweke, making it difficult to pass government bills. This is not a fallout that started today; the attempts to reduce Ruto's influence began much earlier," Poghisio stated.
His remarks suggest that the political tensions currently surrounding Uhuru's renewed involvement in national politics should be understood against the background of Jubilee's internal struggles rather than treated as a new disagreement.
The former senator's analysis comes as Uhuru continues urging opposition leaders to abandon individual presidential ambitions and unite behind a common political agenda ahead of the 2027 General Election.
However, the former President's interventions have attracted criticism from allies of Ruto, with questions emerging over his intentions and his continued influence in Kenya's political affairs.
The rivalry between the two former political allies escalated further after they exchanged sharp political remarks while addressing separate audiences approximately 300 kilometres apart.
Their latest exchanges have highlighted the growing political significance of their contest as the country approaches another general election.
During their time in Jubilee, Tanga Tanga and Kieleweke became competing political camps, with the former associated with Ruto's supporters and the latter backing Uhuru's political direction.
The divisions eventually contributed to the breakdown of the relationship between the two leaders, culminating in Ruto's emergence as Uhuru's successor following the August 2022 presidential election.
Poghisio's intervention now raises questions about whether the current confrontation represents another chapter in a political rivalry that has been developing for years.
With opposition leaders struggling to agree on a common presidential candidate and Ruto seeking to consolidate his political support, Uhuru's calls for unity could become increasingly influential.
As the 2027 elections draw closer, the relationship between the former President and his successor is likely to remain one of the country's biggest political talking points.
Link:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19o9HRTZ3R/
Leave a Reply