In Kenya, a showdown could end the political alliance between former President Uhuru Kenyatta and the then Deputy President William Ruto.The divide between them grew after the arrest of the then Cabinet Secretary to the National Treasury Henry Rotich, who was accused of corruption.Rotich, who pleaded not guilty, was released on bail the following day. He had been appointed by Kenyatta in 2013 at Ruto’s request.
In Kenya’s post-independence history, the vice presidency as the role was known before the 2010 Constitution redesigned and renamed it to deputy president, elected alongside the president – was considered a poisoned chalice; occupy at your own risk. The role was appointive, meaning the president could and would whimsically hire and fire their second in command or push them to resign.
It took William Ruto to give the role some gravitas.To his credit, Ruto knew he either had to be preemptive and launch his presidential offensive immediately after he and Kenyatta were sworn in for a second and final term in office on 27 November 2017, or his chances at emerging as a serious contender to succeed Kenyatta would dwindle.
In 2013, the Jubilee party won the presidential election, with Uhuru Kenyatta as the president of Kenya and William Ruto as the deputy president. However, the Supreme Court of Kenya nullified re-election in 2017, and in October, Kenyans went back to vote. Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto were again declared the winners by 98% of the total votes. In short, they served for two terms up to August 2022.
In the 2022 general election, Ruto contested as a presidential candidate under his party (United Democratic Alliance) ticket. He was then declared the winner with 7,176,141 votes against Raila Odinga, who had 6,942,930 votes.
Previously Ruto opened up on why he decided to give his predecessor the role of Kenya’s peace envoy in Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Back then, while Speaking during an interview with France 24 President Ruto revealed that he decided to offer the former president the role as the regional conflicts would have affected his administration.
Ruto stated that Uhuru Kenyatta’s leadership skills are essential in striking a peace pacts in Ethiopia and DRC.
“I appointed fotmer President Uhuru as an envoy because I’m different. I believe that President Kenyatta brings value to the processes in Ethiopia and DRC. What was there between him and me was a competition.
“It wasn’t a competition between me and the person he supported. Being a democracy, we are mature enough to understand that we can compete but we don’t have to be enemies but compatriots,” Ruto revealed.
Ruto added that he would be the one to be blamed if his administration fails and therefore there was a need to bring on boards Uhuru Kenyatta’s leadership skills to his administration.
“When things fall apart, it will stop at my desk. I can only be effective in doing what the people of Kenya want if the region is not a problem.
“If somebody else can help me with the regional issues so that I can concentrate my energy, efforts and time in sorting out the issues Kenyans want me to do, I think that is the right decision,” Ruto added
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