Kenyan Vice President Hints at Break Away From Ruling Party
- Ruto may contest presidency under his own party’s banner
- President Kenyatta has sidelined his deputy ahead of 2022 vote
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Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto said some ruling Jubilee Party officials who want to block him from vying to lead the country after next year’s elections had sought to humiliate him, and indicated that he may break away to mount his campaign.
Ruto backed President Uhuru Kenyatta’s two previous presidential campaigns and his supporters expected that in return he would be next in line for the top job. That understanding now appears to be unraveling, with Kenyatta having reconciled with long-time rival Raila Odinga, and forged an alliance with a party led by Gideon Moi, the son of ex-leader Daniel Arap Moi. The political realignments are seen to sideline Ruto.