Growing list of Uhuru, Raila allies changing tune after election loss
Some allies of outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga have changed tune days after the Supreme Court upheld the election of William Ruto as President.
While some have joined Ruto’s side, others are engaging in blame game over Azimio’s failure to win the presidency.
Among Uhuru’s close allies who have since blamed the President for the election outcome is former Starehe MP Maina Kamanda (pictured).
COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli, who has been a fierce critic of Ruto, has since pledged to support the incoming President.
Kamanda, who is one of the Mt Kenya region leaders who chose to stick with Uhuru, recently surprised many when a video clip of him casting aspersions at Uhuru’s handling of the Azimio campaigns went viral on social media.
Other leaders who have warmed up to Ruto include former Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi, former Mukurwe-ini MP Kabando wa Kabando and immediate former Gatundu North MP Wanjiku wa Kibe.
Others are former Lugari MP Ayub Savula who is also the Kakamega Deputy Governor-elect, former Tiaty MP William Kamket, former Kisii Governor James Ongwae, business mogul Peter Munga, who is also the Mt Kenya Foundation Chairman, and members of the Gema Council of Elders.
“When I see this kind of blame game my heart sinks. Almost all of us in Jubilee lost our positions because we were in Azimio. In fact, the majority of the MPs in ODM and Wiper were re-elected back,” Kibe wrote on her Facebook page.
Atwoli has gone on record asking Kenyans, including those who were supporting Raila, to move on and support Ruto’s government for the country to forge ahead.
Kabando, in a tweet posted on September 6, seemed to castigate the President over his reluctance to send a congratulatory message to Ruto on being declared the winner, which decision was upheld by the Supreme Court.
He tweeted: “Rais Uhuru Sir, Raila congratulated you upon 2013 SCoK ruling. Raila joined you in 2018. Undeniably UhuRuto made you in 2013. You rejected our advice to keep off 2022. Common decency, gratitude, courtesy, Statesmanship demand that you now congratulate President WSR. Do it.”
Savula, who is yet to take oath of office in his new assignment says he was forced to join the Jubilee- Azimio brigade by State agencies who were harassing him and his family members over claims of corruption.
