By Felix Olick and Vitalis Kimutai
Eldoret North MP William Ruto kept off a meeting of G7 Alliance presidential aspirants, which Uhuru Kenyatta convened, signifying the intrigues around the outfit.
Though he is abroad, Vice- President Kalonzo Musyoka sent a junior member of his Wiper Democratic Movement, Nominated MP, and Mohammed Affey, to represent him.
It would have been expected that if he deemed the meeting strategic for his political interests, Kalonzo, who like Ruto, is positioning his own party for the big race, would have sent either his party chairman David Musila, Secretary General, Mutula Kilonzo, or even one of his trusted WDM MPs like Johnstone Muthama, who is also co-chief whip in Parliament.
Though Ruto could not discuss why he was in his party headquarters, as the meeting progressed, sources said he was unsettled over Uhuru’s recent political moves.
Sources reveal Ruto’s camp is suspicious that Uhuru by summoning the meeting wants to project the image he is the ‘senior partner’ or the likely joint candidate.
Some also think it was partly Uhuru’s way of upstaging Kalonzo and Ruto, but also a strategy to play down the ramifications of his Wednesday agreement to work with four other parties.
These include the projection of Justice Minister, Eugene Wamalwa who attended the meeting, as Uhuru’s likely presidential running mate candidate. There is also the Wednesday move when he signed a political pact with four leading parties with roots in Mount Kenya region. They include Kiraitu Murungi’s Alliance Party of Kenya.Ruto, who has been traversing Mount Kenya region hunting for votes, is on record trying to woo Kiraitu to be his running mate.
Other sources around Ruto revealed he did not like the ‘casual manner’ the meeting was called, and also the fact that ‘outsiders’ were being brought in when G7 Alliance had its own serious challenges.
Ainamoi MP Benjamin Langat said the parties that signed pact with TNA were members of one family and it was not surprising they did so.
Langat explained URP was busy laying the ground for party grassroots elections at the end of this month, adding: “Had Ruto and Mudavadi attended the meeting, it would have given it credibility.” He then asked: “What value will Tuju and Kiraitu bring to the alliance?”
Not invited
“The timing of the meeting was wrong. How could they think of convening it a day after Uhuru was endorsed by small parties associated with central Kenya leaders? It is total lack of tact and mischievous,” declared an assistant minister close to Ruto who, however, declined to be named.
“ Uhuru and his handlers may need to change tact. The way they are engaging others reeks of malice and arrogance. It may further alienate him,” said another MP associated with URP.
