Analysts also say the big fallout between President Ruto and Governor Kang’ata dates back to the run-up to the last general elections. There are claims that before he decamped from the Uhuru Kenyatta and Azimio camps to join Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza formation, Kang’ata had been promised the position of running mate before William Ruto opted for Rigathi Gachagwa
Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata’s brand of politics has caught some of his colleagues in Kenya Kwanza flat-footed. Many people in the current administration are asking what could be the reason behind the governor’s weekly attacks on President William Ruto.
Governor Kang’ata is on record asking questions and telling those who care to listen that President Ruto’s government has failed the electorate, and without mincing words, he warned the president of a looming rebellion among the Kenyan youth. In one of his articles, which appears weekly in one of the daily papers in the country, the governor asks the president to accommodate all of the country’s communities in nation-building. He went on to warn that communities can be dangerous if they feel excluded from the daily affairs and running of the country.
The warnings have been interpreted to mean that only two communities (shareholders, according to DP Rigathi Gachagwa) are benefiting from the current regime, namely the Kikuyu and Kalenjin. The governor has not taken the matter lightly, choosing to address the issue through articles in the print media. What is worrying President Ruto and his handlers is the fact that the governor has access to him directly but has chosen to address him through the press.
Sources say Governor Kang’ata is outraged at reports that recruitments for state jobs have only benefited the Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities. In one of his articles, the governor boldly narrated how all revolutions in history worldwide have been fueled by disgruntled youths. This, according to analysts, was about the recent Kenya Defense Forces recruitment exercise, which was allegedly skewed in favour of the Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities. There are allegations that 30% of the available slots were reserved for Kikuyu, 30% for Kalenjin, and 10% for Somali. The rest of the communities in Kenya shared the remaining 30%.
It is believed that the governor was responding to such allegations and went on to warn that “young people are usually dangerous in any society if they feel excluded”. But again, Mr. Kang’ata is a Kikuyu, and his community has benefited. How come he is still attacking the same government that has favoured his community? Perhaps the governor has decided to be a statesman and not an ethnic chauvinist who intends to cut a niche for himself as the only reasoning voice in the Kenya Kwanza administration.
But analysts also say the big fallout between President Ruto and Governor Kang’ata dates back to the run-up to the last general elections. There are claims that before he decamped from the Uhuru Kenyatta and Azimio camps to join Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza formation, he had been promised the position of running mate to William Ruto. Sources say William Ruto and Irungu Kang’ata held many secret meetings before he was dumped from Uhuru Kenyatta’s camp. The deal seemed so good to decline; however, after his defection, the political terrain in the Mount Kenya region changed dramatically, forcing William Ruto to opt for Rigathi Gachagwa as his preferred choice of running mate. This did not go down well with Mr. Kang’ata, who felt betrayed and shortchanged.
He was later offered a direct ticket to fly the Murang’a gubernatorial flag, which he won comfortably. So is Kang’ata on a revenge mission against President Ruto? Your guess could be as good as mine.
