Kennedy Kaunda, the now-viral transport sector figure whose sharp-tongued television appearances have electrified Kenya’s political conversation this week, was nowhere in sight as President Ruto met transport stakeholders in Mombasa on Thursday evening, May 21.
For many online, the omission did not look accidental. It looked surgical.
Just hours earlier on Wednesday May 20, Kaunda had lowkey unleashed another political grenade during an appearance on Citizen TV’s JKLive.
Already trending nationally for his now-famous “with all due respect” confrontation with Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, Kaunda may have unknowingly escalated the feud even further.
In one of the widely shared clips, Kaunda, prodded by Jeff Koinange, dismissed suggestions that he had been disrespectful to Wandayi during the now-famous press conference.
Spanner boy
Lowering his voice almost theatrically, he claimed he had actually been addressing Roads and Transport CS Davis Chirchir before delivering the line that transformed a policy dispute into political theatre.
“…I was, in fact, addressing CS Chirchir and not CS Wandayi, whom I considered as just another spanner boy…” Kaunda said.
But it now appears Wandayi or his supporters were watching and did not take Kaunda’s remarks kindly.
On Friday, at Mombasa State House, Wandayi stood beside President Ruto, stern-faced, composed, and dressed in his now instantly recognisable patterned shirt.
Around him stood senior government officials and transport representatives assembled in a carefully choreographed display of unity.
Kaunda’s absence hung over the gathering like an unspoken sentence.
The contrast was difficult to miss: the man who had dominated the airwaves barely 24 hours earlier had vanished from the room where decisions were being made.
During the press conference, President William Ruto announced fuel prices will remain unchanged until the next review cycle on June 15.
READ ALSO: Kennedy Kaunda Denies Claims He Received “Brown Envelope” to End Strike
Transport stakeholders had earlier vowed to resume a nationwide strike on Tuesday, May 26, and would not accept anything less than a KSh 30 reduction on diesel.
Currently, Super Petrol, Diesel, and Kerosene retail at KSh 214.25, KSh 232.86, and KSh 191.38 per litre, respectively.
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