Moses Kuria’s stay in Ruto’s camp could be cut short as “spy” tag sticks

By BWIRE MUGOLLA

Ever since he landed on the frontline of national politics in 2013, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has always left Kenyans guessing his next move; all courtesy of his endless political antics.

But to any keen observer, there is no doubt whatsoever that Kuria is not an ordinary politician. He just plays the fool, he’s definitely not one.

Kuria is a brilliant schemer, a crowd-puller and a rabble-rouser. Those who know him best describe him as ruthless and power-hungry. They see him as a political trickster, a Machiavellian who has defied the odds to build his own brand.

He is today one of Uhuru Kenyatta’s top critics despite the fact that it was the President who weaned him into politics and handed him the Gatundu South constituency seat on a silver platter.

He has in recent months been widely seen as a staunch supporter of Deputy President William Ruto, though simultaneously working hard and shrewdly to raise his clout as the leader of the People’s Empowerment Party (PEP).

While Kuria is not new to controversy, it appears he is headed into yet another political whirlwind, all courtesy of his duplicity.

Word has it that the vocal MP is on the brink of being kicked out of Ruto’s camp on spying accusations.

An elaborate plan to oust him out of the Hustler nest has been hatched and is in advanced stage. He is expected to be shown the door after the Kiambaa by-elections, with the DP’s camp calculatingly planning to squeeze out any usefulness in Kuria before handing him matching orders.

The MP is accused of pretending to be a Ruto ally while actually remaining close to Jubilee Party insiders.

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, his Elgeyo Marakwet counterpart Kipchumba Murkomen, MPs Rigathi Gachagua and Kimani Ichung’wa are among Tanga Tanga henchmen who have openly accused Kuria of being one of the moles spying for Jubilee party in Ruto’s camp.

For the last few months, Kuria’s erratic behavior, especially his gloves off approach in handling close Ruto allies, has been questioned.

This has caused restlessness in the DP’s camp since Kuria has in the recent past also been leading the Tanga Tanga brigade in fearlessly attacking Kenyatta. At some point, he had the audacity to even allege that they rigged out Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga in 2013 and 2017 general polls.

Like Mwangi Kiunjuri, another Mt Kenya political schemer, Kuria has deliberately refused to officially join Ruto’s UDA party. He has instead deemed it right to ride in his own political vehicle, PEP.

Moses is one of the three politicians angling for a running mate position in Ruto’s camp, with his competitors being Rigathi and Kiunjuri, who launched his new political outfit, The Service Party of Kenya, last year

Be it as it may, credible reports indicate that Ruto has of late been excluding Mt Kenya legislators in his grand political schemes. He has been trimming his inner circle as the succession politics take shape.

The DP has dropped all Kikuyus and Luhyas that enjoyed his kitchen and only spared Kalenjins who he believes will deliver him to the house on the hill, somehow turning UDA into an ethnic political party.

In a desperate effort to prove themselves worthy of DP’s trust, Rigathi and Ichung’wa are said to be overworking themselves on plans to cut off Moses Kuria’s involvement in Hustler movement.

Deceptively, UDA has no plans for the Kiambaa electorate and the only valid plan is to measure Ruto’s popularity in Kiambu County, Uhuru’s home turf. Kuria is the President’s MP in Gatundu so his involvement in Kiambaa by-election is crucial for UDA. But he will have outlived his usefulness in Hustler movement after the mini poll.

Kuria had decided to field a PEP candidate for the Kiambaa seat but came under fire from Gachagua and Ichung’wa, who convinced Ruto to coerce him into withdrawing his candidate.

He had indicated that PEP was determined to repeat the Gaturi Ward and Juja Constituency feats on July 15, 2021, in Kiambaa.

Kuria’s party proved to be a threat to UDA within Mount Kenya after beating the Jubilee candidate, Susan Njeri, in Juja.

Questions about Kuria’s loyalty emerged after the MP clashed with former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko after the latter insulted the President.

“I want to tell Sonko, let bitterness not push you to hurl the kind of insults you are making to the president. We may feel bitter but some things we would rather just leave them to God,” he stated.

In his retribution, the Sonko referred to Kuria as “a Deep State mole” whose work is to spy on ‘Hustlers’.

Murang’a Senator Irungu Kang’ata, who is a close ally of Kuria, however, refutes the spying claims, say the MP is a master strategist, an art that dictates that one goes against the political setup of the state.

Whether Kuria is a Machiavelli and whether UDA will make good its threat to kick him out, only time will tell.