GLANCE FACTS
WHAT THEY SAID
- Meeting attended by about 80 representatives from 12 Rif Valley counties
- Urged two to come together now, saying a post-election pact will be useless if they lose election
- Both had previously hinted at readiness to work together
- Participants expressed concern that the VP’s national campaign team was not aggressive enough
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| VP Kalonzo Musyoka in a song with worshippers at a church service at AIC Mung’ala in Machakos County. |
By Beauttah Omanga
Opinion leaders and elders from 12 Rift Valley counties have said Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and Eldoret North MP William Ruto should team up.
During a consultative meeting attended by about 80 representatives from the counties at a Nakuru hotel, the participants said the two have a clear chance of winning the presidency on the first round given the support and goodwill they were enjoying across the country.
“Of what use will a post-election pact have between the VP and Ruto if they both lose? It is sensible to have such a working formula now for it will give them the presidency,” argued Councillor Lepeyio ole Mututua of Suswa, Narok County.
The Nakuru forum’s spokesman Fred Kiptanui, briefing the Press after the daylong consultations, said the participants were of the view that the two presidential hopefuls should be encouraged to make good their pledge to work together ahead of the polls, as they declared during the installation of a new Kalenjin Council of Elders in Kericho County a month ago.
Made remarks
During the installation of the council under the chairmanship of Josiah Sang, both Kalonzo and Ruto said they were ready to engage each other on the possibility of joining hands in the polls.
The VP then advocated for a post-election deal while Ruto remained non-committal.
“It is clear that were the two to agree on how to approach the elections as a team, they have a better chance of winning the presidency in the first round unlike if they were to go it individually,” urged Kiptanui.
The meeting, also attended by former Cabinet minister John Cheruiyot, several councillors and aspirants, said the VP should venture more into Rift Valley and seek votes instead of banking on other politicians.
The group that also brought participants from universities, Kanu, ODM and Vision Party of Kenya, said parties that were yet to decide whom to support were willing to support the VP given his seniority in the current Government.
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