President Uhuru Kenyatta's endorsement of Jubilee's McDonald Mariga for the Kibra by-election poses a litmus test for the longevity of his handshake with Raila Odinga.
Uhuru had initially kept off the Mariga debate amid claims he was reluctant to enter into a political contest that would jeopardise his blossoming ties with Raila since the March 9, 2018 truce.
Mariga, a political novice, had largely been seen as Deputy President William Ruto's pawn in his 2022 dress rehearsal with Raila.
Yesterday, politicians and analysts warned that a political showdown pitting Jubilee against ODM could expose the handshake and re-open wounds that were patched by the handshake.
Former Kitutu Masaba MP Timothy Bosire told the Star that the handshake will be sailing on uncharted waters once campaigns hit the crescendo in Kibra.
“It would be tricky going forward. It will be interesting to watch how they [Uhuru and Raila] relate especially knowing that their messages will be shaping the destiny going forward,” he said.
Bosire, who is also the ODM national treasurer, said both Uhuru and Raila face a delicate balancing act to ensure peaceful political competition as well as safeguard the handshake.
“All eyes will be on Kibra regarding how the messaging will be done. This means that while party interests will be catered for, they must be played in such a manner that national interests come first. Kibra interests are short-lived,” Bosire said.
Starehe MP Charles Njagua told the Star that Jubilee's decision to field a candidate was meant to demystify perceptions that ODM and Jubilee were in a political marriage.
“I know what the handshake has done to the people of Nairobi. The handshake did not amount to a political coalition between ODM and Jubilee. We are still competitors,” he said.
Raila's ODM has fronted Bernard Imran, the late Ken Okoth's brother, who defeated nine other aspirants to clinch the party ticket.
Musalia Mudavadi's ANC is supporting former Raila aide Eliud Owalo while Moses Wetangula of Ford Kenya has fielded Khamisi Butichi.
University lecturer Macharia Munene said Uhuru's decision to support Mariga is meant to send a political message.
" What the president has done is to reassure people in Jubilee that the party is there, it has not been crashed by Raila and that there should be no panic,” Munene said.
The United States International University lecturer told the Star that the President's move would affirm his grip as the leader of the Jubilee party and dispel fears that he was a lame duck.
“There could be some perceptions that have been allowed to go on for some time. That the handshake meant that Raila can get away with anything. Kibra is a political issue and Uhuru is playing politics,” he said
Nominated Senator Isaac Mwaura said that Uhuru's action shows that the handshake has nothing to do with Jubilee and ODM not being in political competition.
“Mariga had been seen as a candidate of one faction within Jubilee. But now when you see the party leader and the deputy party leader closing ranks then it means that Jubilee is still in the business of political competition with its nemesis ODM,” he said.
Mwaura said the President is keen on leaving Mt Kenya more united behind him as the de facto leader and “not any other brokers”.
“This has a lot of impact and the Kieleke team is likely to be left on their own. Maina Kamanda has a different agenda apart from the Jubilee one,” he said.
Kamanda, who met Raila at his Capitol Hill office, said he will campaign for the ODM candidate in Kibra for the sake of the handshake.
“With the handshake, you can move freely in Kibra. That is why I am here to stand with the candidate that has been nominated by ODM whom I refer to as the Jubilee candidate. I am here as a person, I am not representing anybody,” Kamanda said.
Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu said while the Tangatanga team had succeeded in having the President endorse Mariga, he will not be in Kibra to campaign unless Uhuru sets foot there.
He said Nairobi MPs allied to Tangatanga had put pressure on the President to support the Jubilee to stamp the party's presence in Nairobi.
“The fact that they are excited that Uhuru met Mariga confirms that they (Tangatanga) cannot sell Jubilee without Uhuru. Let us see how they are going to campaign in Kibra in light of the handshake which they have been busy fighting,” he said.
But ODM chairman John Mbadi said the Kibra race has nothing to do with the handshake and that the Uhuru-Raila pact would still be intact.
“By the President endorsing Mariga, it doesn't mean he is going to the ground. Until the President hits the ground to campaign for him, I don't see the handshake facing any threat,” he said.
Yesterday Raila said he expects peaceful campaigns driven by issues.
