Makau Mutua Cautions Rigathi Gachagua Against Clashing With Ruto: "Atajikaanga Na Mafuta Yake!"

• Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party spokesperson Makau Mutua advised Deputy President Gachagua Gachagua to avoid confrontation with his boss, William Ruto
• The lawyer argued that the deputy president might be tempted to engage in a supremacy battle with Ruto but might ultimately be on the losing side
• Makau said Gachagua should not follow in Ruto's footsteps, as he lacks the political strategies to defeat his boss

Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi - Lawyer Makau Mutua has warned Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua againstinfighting with his boss, President William Ruto.

Can Gachagua outsmart William Ruto?

In a statement on Tuesday, May 21, Makau said Gachagua might be tempted to clash with Ruto but would ultimately lose the battle.

The Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party spokesperson advised Gachagua to resist any urge to follow in Ruto's footsteps.

During his time as the DP, Ruto constantly clashed with retired president Uhuru Kenyatta in the previous regime.

"DP Rigathi Gachagua will fight President William Ruto and lose big. He should resist the urge to follow in his boss’s footsteps because his boss isn’t Uhuru Kenyatta," Makau said.

Makau claimed the second-in-command was not a political genius, making fighting with his boss difficult.

"Unlike his boss, Gachagua isn’t a master political strategist or a genius tactician. As the late President Moi used to say, atajikaanga na mafuta yake!" he added.

Why is a handshake between Gachagua and Uhuru not good?

Elsewhere, political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi cautioned Gachagua against burying the hatchet with Uhuru.

In a statement on Saturday, May 18, Ngunyi warned that any handshake with Uhuru would undermine Gachagua's relationship with Ruto.

According to Ngunyi, the president and his predecessor are not on good political terms; hence, it would be counterproductive for Gachagua to oppose his boss's position.

Is there division in Kenya Kwanza?

Makau's sentiments come a few days after Nyeri governor Mutahi Kahiga cautioned against any plans to undermine Gachagua in the Kenya Kwanza government.

Speaking in Nyeri on Sunday, May 19, Kahiga hinted at a possible fallout between President William Ruto and Gachagua.

The tough-taking Kahiga said the people of the Mt. Kenya region will not allow Gachagua to be mistreated like Ruto was allegedly mistreated under former president Uhuru Kenyatta's administration.

He added that Gachagua was not appointed to his current position; instead, he was elected like any other leader and deserves respect.

Proofreading by Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke