"I am in charge of this government and I am in control of what we are doing
And that's just what he's doing now.
President Uhuru Kenyatta's aggressive campaign for his preferred successor Raila Odinga, whom he once reviled, are rattling his deputy William Ruto as the race is down to the wire.
A sitting president is actively managing his own succession and openly campaigning for a former opposition leader.
Analysts say the President's last days of campaigning, even in his lame duck days, suggest his firm grip on succession, jolting Ruto's aggressive bid to defy the odds.
Sensitive to allegations that Raila is the President's 'project' and not wanting to fuel them, Uhuru has done little joint campaigning with his former adversary.
Instead,the president has intensified his goodbye countrywide tours to launch projects and market Raila directly, with Ruto crying foul.
In meetings strategically selected to reap political capital, the President has been categorical that he is keen on Raila succeeding him, terming the ODM leader gI am in charge of this government and I am in control of what we are doingentle, humble and close to his own heart.
With four days to Tuesday's general election, the President's latest moves have ratcheted up the bad blood with accusations and counter accusations.
He has publicly called Ruto "evil and a thief".
And on Wednesday, he said,
"You can start a journey with a friend and mean well for them. But midway when you look back and find the seats ripped off, passengers kicked out and robbed and tyres punctured.
"And instead of the friend helping you to carry out repairs, he disappears. What can you do?" Uhuru asked.
"A journey where travellers have no trust for each other must be abandoned and that is exactly what I did."
And Ruto gives as good as he gets, begging Uhuru not to kill his children, for example, saying the state is misusing its machinery and threatening chiefs with dismissal if they don't back Raila.
Political analyst Martin Andati said the President still commands massive influence and can shape the election, which is widely considered too close to call. Can Uhuru make the difference.
"The president wields immense influence and may deploy his networks to propel a successor. The President is determined to have Raila succeed him and that is why he is marketing him,” he said.
Some observers say the President's ad hominem attacks and warfare with his deputy could be more personal than political. Kenyatta appears determined to annihilate Ruto's presidential ambitions.
He cites insubordination, corruption and other integrity concerns and there are rumours of an assassination plot against the President. ruto says there's a plot against him.
They crossed the Rubicon a long time ago.
“These are unfamiliar scenes, we have never witnessed them before and I hope the next president will not engaged in such nasty fights with his deputy,” former State House Comptroller Franklin Bett said.
According to the ex-Bureti MP, the falling out between Uhuru and Ruto has put the Republic of Kenya in a very "awkward" situation and put Kenya's international reputation at stake.
In his final days as president and commander-in-chief, Uhuru has held 'secret' meetins with select leaders at State House Nairobi and at lodges iNakuru, Kisumu and Kakamega.
The aim is to cut Ruto down to size and to call on all Azimio soldiers to get out the vote.
In the Nakuru State House meeting, the President is said to have told a group of Rift Valley leaders that Ruto is not fit to hold power wand would be dangerous for the country.
His ferocious attacks indicate both that the race is very close and that it's also personal.
Ruto's allies fear the President's brazen campaigns against Ruto are personal and part of a scheme to perpetuate political hegemony.
“He is just tarnishing Ruto's name to cover his mistakes and mismanagement of the economy,”Kimilili MP Didmas Barasa said.
“The hustler nation is unstoppable.”
Ruto last week said his life was in danger but pledged to joust with Kenyatta, provided he doesn't "kill my family." He has also said he never insulted the President but strongly opposes his choice of Raila.
"We are the ones who voted for you for the presidency, and now you want to threaten me? As long as you do not kill my children, we should respect each other," Ruto said at a campaign rally in Kapsabet, Nandi.
A visibly angry Ruto said he will not be intimidated but will soldier on.
A day later, the President hit back, saying if he hasn't killed ruto for the last three years when ruto and his allies insulted him, he has no business harming anyone as he moves into retirement.
"Those telling me not to kill their children are only telling me not to do what they themselves would do if they were in my position,” Uhuru said of Ruto.
Some have argued that a smooth power transition is dicey, although Kenyatta has maintained he is ready to hand over power to whomever wins next week's election.
But questions about a rerun and legitimate win could mean a court case.
“It is quite delicate because of the president's direct involvement but the country is bigger than any personal interests,” political analyst Alexander Nyamboga said.
The political scientist and university don emphasised, however, that state agencies should start planning for a peaceful power handover.
When he exited power in 2002, former President Daniel Moi, who had a 24-year-long stranglehold on power, endorsed Uhuru Kenyatta, then a novice, to succeed him. He had made Kenyatta a linchpin in Kanu.
But he lost.
When the former President Mwai Kibaki wound up his tenure at State House, he is said to have quietly allowed the so-called 'system' to guarantee a level playing field but he was strongly inclined toward Uhuru Kenyatta.
However, Kibaki never came out to forcefully and aggressively campaign for Uhuru, who was then deputy prime minister. Raila had seemed his heir apparent in the Grand Coalition government.government.
President Kenyatta's latest political manoeuvres to whip his government to back Raila's presidential bid hit the crescendo when he openly started antagonising his deputy, calling him a thief.
While nearly the entire Cabinet is behind Raila for president, the President has gone a notch higher to call Ruto is totally unfit for the highest office in the land because of his flawed temperament and tantrums.
He has told voters to elect Raila for the sake of peace and tranquility.
There are concerns, which the state has refuted, that the President's power men are using the national administration officers to manipulate next week's elections. They are supposed to be neutral and serve all Kenyans.
Ruto's camp has particularly singled out the use of county commissioners and chiefs to allegedly 'disrupt the general election' and aid Raila's win.
Ruto's running mate Rigathi Gachagua has alleged that the Office of the President has instructed chiefs to recruit individuals who will disrupt the election at the polling station level.
“The chiefs are telling us they are being told to recruit people, whom they are calling C-30, to vote very early in the morning and thereafter organise young men to disrupt the exercise,” he said.
The state has denied the accusations, saying meetings of regional and county commissions with chiefs and assistants are normal security sessions that should not raise alarm.
(Edited by V. Graham)
“WATCH: The latest videos from the Star”
