Ruto bans regional MP caucuses within Kenya Kwanza amid claims of fallout
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Ruto moves to avert a fallout in his Kenya Kwanza Alliance by banning regional MP caucuses in Parliament that were reportedly inflaming tensions within the ruling coalition
Ruto moves to avert a fallout in his Kenya Kwanza Alliance by banning regional MP caucuses in Parliament that were reportedly inflaming tensions within the ruling coalition.
Sources claim that the move is intended to break up factions from the Western and Mount Kenya regions that were uniting around Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Instead, in an attempt to put an end to a smoldering revolt, President Ruto has asked MPs to direct their complaints to the parliamentary leadership.
According to a publication by the Daily Nation, sources within the President’s inner circle Ruto banned the caucuses after tensions boiled over during East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) elections last December.
A Rift Valley MP, who asked not to be named, said the move could be aimed at ensuring that the Head of State controlled the messaging by the MPs, amid fears that speaking at cross-purposes was exposing him to ridicule and giving fodder to the Raila Odinga-led opposition.
Mt Kenya leaders admitted that the President has banned caucuses but pushed back on reports it was aimed at taming Mr. Gachagua who is out to unite the region behind him.
“When the President asked us to shun regional caucuses, it was not that he was reading another signal that there is a problem. He only underscored the need of not to preach tribalism. He wants us to coalesce as Kenya Kwanza lawmakers and not as regions,” said Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi.
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Kieni MP Njoroge Wainaina said the region will only meet to strategize on how to tackle alcohol abuse in Mt Kenya.
“The President asked us not to coalesce around regions because it’s not healthy for national cohesion and integration. There’s no rift between the two leaders,” said Mr. Wainaina.
The disbandment of the regional caucuses has seen Rift Valley MPs, who had revolted against Mr. Ichung’wah and Mr. Osoro, tone down their vitriol.
Most of the first-term MPs from President Ruto’s backyard had accused Mr. Ichung’wah and Mr. Osoro of arrogance and failure to address their grievances, something which prompted the President to silence the dissidents.
“There was some disquiet in the coalition and that made us reject Kimani Ichungwah’s choice during the Eala elections. We felt that he is arrogant and does not listen to us. Our issues have not been represented well,” said a Rift Valley MP.
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