In Kenya, a showdown could end the political alliance between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto.

The divide between them grew after July 22, with the arrest of Cabinet Secretary to the National Treasury Henry Rotich, who was accused of corruption.

Rotich, who pleaded not guilty, was released on bail the following day. He had been appointed by Kenyatta in 2013 at Ruto’s request.

Ruto held his tongue on the indictment of Rotich, a key figure from his populous political support base in the northern Rift Valley region.

Meanwhile, another political development could stoke tension between the two top leaders in the right-wing Jubilee Party administration.

On August 9, the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) task-force concluded public hearings on proposals for key constitutional amendments.

It will soon present its report and recommendations to Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga.

The Ruto camp has never hidden its distrust for the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), an outcome of the March 2018 peace pact between the president and Odinga – his long-time opposition foe. The initiative was symbolised by the famous public handshake between the two men – a moment now simply referred to as “The Handshake”.

Ruto’s supporters fear that the rapprochement signals Kenyatta’s plan to renege on a power-sharing and succession pact, under which he would back Ruto for president at the 2022 elections after serving two terms.

Any major constitutional amendments proposed by BBI might lead to referendum votes, which could force Ruto to openly break with Kenyatta and begin an opposition movement.

If that happens, his days as deputy president might be numbered.

These divisions come against the backdrop of an intra-party split – Jubilee Party politicians are far from united over President Kenyatta’s anti-corruption drive.