Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina has urged the Mt. Kenya region to reassess its political strategy in light of the evolving dynamics involving President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga. Maina emphasized the necessity for Mt. Kenya to adapt to potential realignments and power shifts ahead of the 2027 elections.
Maina pointed out that President Ruto’s recent decisions, including nominating opposition figures to key government positions, signal a significant departure from his earlier stance against power-sharing with the opposition. This shift has been further complicated by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s earlier statements, which strongly opposed any coalition government with Raila Odinga.
“Politics is about interests. There are no permanent enemies, there are no permanent alliances. There is nothing that is cast in stone,” Maina remarked, highlighting the fluid nature of political alliances.
Shifting Political Landscape
The Deputy President, who had previously declared that he had set traps to prevent Raila from entering the government and State House, now faces a changing political landscape. Maina underscored this point by recalling past pronouncements made by both President Ruto and Deputy President Gachagua, which firmly rejected the notion of a power-sharing arrangement with Raila.
“…the deputy president asserted that ameweka mitego and that Raila will not get into government… the president has also pronounced himself in Mt Kenya that Raila will not get into government and that there will be no nusu mkate. In politics, you can say this today and then tomorrow, depending on the alignments or interests that go about, you say something different. It is the politics of it,” said Maina.
Need for Strategic Realignment
Maina emphasized the need for the Mt. Kenya region to rethink its political strategy by considering all possible scenarios for the 2027 elections. She stressed the importance of identifying where the region fits into the shifting political landscape and adapting accordingly.
“The DP has to rethink his politics in 2027. He has to see where he fits and know that with the new political realignments, we perhaps could see changes in 2027,” Maina stated. She further added that President Ruto must also reassess his strategies, considering where he garnered support in the previous elections and where he can secure numbers in 2027.
“It is like having a wife and then having a new wife. He has to see whether they will co-exist, whether the new wife will replace the old one or they will do a 50/50,” Maina analogized, stressing the complexity of navigating political alliances.
Conclusion
As Mt. Kenya navigates this evolving political terrain, the region must remain vigilant and adaptable. The shifting dynamics between President Ruto and Raila Odinga, combined with internal reassessments by key political figures, suggest that the road to the 2027 elections will be marked by significant realignments and strategic recalibrations. Maina’s call to action underscores the critical need for Mt. Kenya to stay ahead of these changes to maintain its political relevance and influence.
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