The tension between Uhuru’s The National Alliance (TNA) and Mr William Ruto’s United Republican Party (URP) could be aggravated by the United Nations Security Council’s rejection of plea for deferral of Uhuru’s case.
While the two coalition leaders put up a strong face of unity and harmony, going by enquiries within the two camps, the groundswell in the alliance is real and growing.
The International Criminal Court’s cases — which have thrust the Jubilee pair into the dock — has particularly opened up old wounds of 2007 post-election ruckus, when Uhuru and Ruto were in opposing camps of Party of National Unity (PNU) and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
Deputy Leader of Majority in the Senate Charles Keter’s sustained demand that high-ranking officials in Kenyatta’s administration, who allegedly ‘fixed’ the DP at the ICC be fired, lit the a political fireball.
His remarks prompted angry reaction from National Assembly Leader of Majority, Aden Duale, who implied the Kericho Senator may have been under influence.
Keter, however, holds his ground: “What I said I will maintain anytime, anywhere, any day. Those who say I was not sober, should prove otherwise.”
Against the backdrop of the latest drama, the President and his deputy called for ceasefire on the verbal war and even shared a podium in Elgeyo Marakwet and Baringo counties on Friday.
But nonetheless, The Standard On Sunday established three key sources of friction between the Jubilee leaders. They include hiring of senior government staff, duties and resource allocation to the Office of DP and the ICC question.
Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki attributes the problem to possible pressure on the DP by members of his URP – a consequence of a pre-election coalition arrangement with Uhuru’s TNA, where each partners seeks autonomy in terms of power sharing.
The genesis of the friction stems from the fact that the DP’s handlers were outmaneuvered when they were let into having the deputy’s office to be literally ‘swallowed’ by and not just an important component of the presidency as spelt out by the Constitution.
Source: The Standard
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