Is Kutuny Shifting His Political Base to Kapseret?

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When former Cherangany MP Joshua Kutuny lost his seat to Boston marathon champion Wesley Korir many thought he was done only to bounce back to political limelight after being appointed as a Special Advisor in charge of Political Affairs in the Office of the President.

With an office based at the Office of President at Harambee House, Kutuny is arguably among the most powerful people in the country within the Jubilee government.

He is among President Kenyatta’s most trusted lieutenants who has the ear of the President and wields political clout.

The wild cheers experienced when Kutuny beat a dozen of experienced politicians among them former minister Kipruto Arap Kirwa to clinch the Cherangany seat are not about to die yet.

At that time, Kutuny was just 30 years old entering the record books as the youngest MP in the 10th parliament. His victory was even sweeter because while his opponents were using 4-wheel-drive fuel guzzlers at the campaigns, Kutuny was using his two wheeled-Boda boda.

It has been rumoured along the political circles that Kutuny is planning to shift his political base from Cherangany to his late fathers’ cherished land of Kapseret.

Though we cannot rule out the possibility of Kutuny taking up the Uasin Gishu county’s most competitive constituency political mantle in the future,the big question is “Is Kutuny’s entry into Kapseret Politics a game changer?”

Kutuny has exuded remarkable leadership credentials with which he can easily win the hearts of the Kapseret electorate in the coming elections.

It should be remembered that in the run up to the last general election Kutuny was largely seen as one of the opinion leaders in the Rift Valley region who tipped the scales to Jubilee’s advantage. The charismatic political scientist cut the image of an eloquent orator,capable of pulling out punchy quotes to rebut Jubilee opponents’ salvos overtly disproportionately. He charmed Jubilee audiences at campaign rallies with his trademark dances.

At that point when he lost his parliamentary seat many thought he was vanquished,but Kutuny a shrewd politician used his political wit and connections to successfully wade through those virulent muddy waters. Later he landed the appointment by President  Kenyatta.

Kutuny’s way of exploiting his position in the Jubilee government can be seen in the way he is commanding power in the government. One undoubted fact is that Kutuny is the fulcrum of Jubilee Government.

Kutuny holds the enviable position from which he is, as per his word and deed, a bosom friend of Kenya’s top  chief and easily ranks as the first among equals in the pecking order of the new breed of political honchos partitioned in powerful compartments curved by the current constitution.

He is perceived as wealthy,suave and thoroughly networked politically speaking.

Those who know the immediate former Cherangany MP describe him as a vastly knowledgeable personality who thinks on his feet, and is sociable, intelligent, highly flexible,disciplined, easily accessible and down-to-earth.

Kutuny has of late made frequent forays into Kapseret where his late father owned land and at one time occupied them when he was on attachment as a District Officer. Though he himself has described the visits as “development agenda” they continue to raise mammoth curiosity.

Cut to size, the political manoeuvres of Kutuny have led to speculation: Has he set his eyes on the foremost Kapseret Parliamentary seat? Is he a possible candidate in 2017.

Is this the man strategically placed to built a new political base? Will Kutuny rise, not only to take over the leadership of the cosmopolitan Kapseret, but also cut to size the dominance of Oscar Sudy in Uasin Gishu politics? Only time will provide concrete answers to these questions. And though his confidants say he is focusing on recapturing the Cherangany seat, political spooks are on the trail noting and analysing each and every step that Kutuny makes and every word he utters.