President Uhuru's Remarks Unsettles Deputy President William Ruto's Camp

President Kenyatta's declaration that his preferred 2022 presidential candidate will shock many has sent shivers to Deputy President William Ruto's camp.

Already, some leaders allied to the Deputy President say the President has sent a clear message that he might not honor his promise of backing Ruto for the top seat in 2022.

"You can’t take the President’s remarks lightly. They mean a lot, especially when they come at a time when Kenyans are aware there was an obvious political deal for 2022. The DP should know that the master is not happy," Cherangany MP Joshua Kutuny tells the Star.

Kutuny, a former President Uhuru's political advisor, says Kenyatta's remarks are weighty and appear to mean that he's unhappy with his deputy.

"He [Uhuru] has become a President playing his cards close to the chest. This is a wake-up call to the Deputy President and his team that all is not well. He should know that he is no longer the guaranteed successor," Kutuny adds.

Former Kipkelion MP Magerer Langat says that Kenyatta is psychologically preparing Kenyans for a candidate who might not be Ruto.

"Every time the President goes around he is pushed to kind of declare that he will support his deputy and people also want to know what is in the handshake. Is it going to spoil the equation? So, I think that having been asked several times, he [Uhuru] just decided to call the bluff and said 'I am going to shock you guys'," Magerer says.

Political analyst Martin Andati argues: "The President is simply telling us he has no business with Ruto."

"He is also telling the Jubilee MPs who have been running around with Ruto that they are wasting their time. He is not with Ruto and those who will try to go against him in Mount Kenya in 2022, he will ensure that they are all kicked out."