- Raila has called for more rallies in the coming weeks as he builds momentum against Ruto's administration.
- Missing in action are key Jubilee figures who spearheaded his campaigns in Mt Kenya.
Image: ANDREW KASUKU
The absence of key Jubilee party bigwigs in opposition to chief Raila Odinga's rallies could jeopardise his aggressive campaign against the government.
While the Jubilee party is considered an anchor party of the Azimio la Umoja coalition, most of its stalwarts have given Raila's onslaught against President William Ruto a wide berth.
Only party secretary general Jeremiah Kioni attended Raila's Azimio rally in Kamukunji grounds on Monday where he unveiled a major pushback against Ruto.
Political analysts say the snub by Jubilee bigwigs including elected MPs and former Azimio campaigners in the Mt Kenya region, might deflate Raila's resistance against Ruto.
It was expected that influential Jubilee leaders could have joined Raila at Kamukunji as an affirmation of their solidarity with him in the anti-Ruto push.
Former Kasarani MP John Njoroge said the Azimio push to destabilise the government will flop because it is “only one-sided'.
“The moment you saw most politicians from Mt Kenya including those who campaigned for Azimio absent, just know that the campaign suffered a stillbirth,” the MP said.
The politician said the resistance is now punctured given the fact that the Jubilee wing of Azimio is divided.
President Ruto on Monday held talks with Jubilee elected MPs in what was seen as a strategy to counter Raila's revolt against the government.
Among the MPs were high-ranking Jubilee leaders including the party's director of elections Kanini Kega and nominated MP Sabina Chege.
The two were Azimio linchpins in the Mt Kenya region and campaigned vigorously for Raila in the run-up to the August 9 general election.
While details of the MPs' talks with Ruto remain scanty, there are indications that the president was reaching out to them to bury the hatchet and work together.
Kega and Chege were Ruto's foremost critics from the Mt Kenya region and who powered Raila's campaigns.
“Without people who have the face of Mt Kenya, it would be almost impossible for Raila to whip Kikuyus to resist Ruto's government,” said political analyst Dickson Wambua.
It is not clear if retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is also the leader of the Jubilee party, sanctioned Raila's resistance campaign against Ruto.
However, observers opine that the presence of Kioni could justify the proposition that perhaps the former president could have given the rallies his blessings.
Other notable Jubilee figures who missed the rally include David Murathe, Raphael Tuju and Amos Kimunya.
However, Azimio troops downplayed the snub saying the presence of Raila's running mate in the August polls, Martha Karua, was enough to show that Mt Kenya is partly walking with him.