Johnson Muthama: Uhurus recent body language points at plans to interfere with Kenyan leadership in 2022

Former senators, Johnstone Muthama (Machakos) and Bony Khalwale (Kakamega) now claim President Uhuru Kenyatta has stripped his deputy, William Ruto of his constitutional duties.

The two former lawmakers, who are close allies of the DP, also alleged that Uhuru has hijacked roles of other constitutional office bearers including that of the Chief Justice and Speakers of both the Senate and the National Assembly.

Muthama and Khalwale who addressed a crowd in Tala in Machakos County on Wednesday claimed the president’s body language in the recent past signified ‘an attempt’ to interfere with the country’s leadership beyond 2022.

“Everybody is aware and it is well known that the President has taken away the duties and responsibilities of the Deputy President which is wrong. The President also took away the duties of some MPs who were leading various Parliamentary committees and also tried to take away the powers of the Chief Justice,” said Muthama.

Muthama also cited the recent take-over of the National Police Service aircraft by the military as well as the transfer of some functions of the Nairobi County government to the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) as an extension of Uhuru’s alleged disregard to the rule of law.

“We are telling President to ensure that the country transits to the next Government without any interference. We can see from his body language that he is not about to stop interfering with the leadership of the country even after his last term ends,” Muthama said.

He went on “Mr. President, follow in the footsteps of former Presidents Mwai Kibaki and the late Daniel Moi. When your time to leave office comes, do so without participating actively in succession politics,” said the former Senator.

His sentiments were echoed by Khalwale who claimed Uhuru was to blame for Ruto’s failure to attend the recent national conference on COVID-19 which was attended by opposition leader Raila Odinga and ANC party leader, Musalia Mudavadi.

“President Uhuru has taken the powers of the Deputy President. He has also taken the powers of the Speakers of the National Assembly and the Senate. He has taken away the powers of the Chief Justice, which is why he has not heeded to his advice to dissolve parliament,” said Khalwale.

The two senators urged the crowd to rally behind DP’s presidential bid, saying he was the best suited to lead the country’s economic recovery process.

“Under President Kenyatta, Kenya’s economy has gone to the dogs. Kenyans should just be patient and wait for the next government which will focus on the path of economic recovery,” said Muthama.