Uhuru, Ruto formally unveil alliance

The youths did their best not to disappoint in the TNA-URP rally on Sunday.

By Peter Opiyo and Beauttah Omanga

NAKURU; KENYA: Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto formally announced their union in a quest to lead Kenya and packaged their pact as a reconciliation tool for the country.

Uhuru’s The National Alliance (TNA) and its red and white hues blended in with Ruto’s United Republican Party’s (URP’s) yellow and black to form a kaleidoscope of colours as diverse as the thousands of supporters thronged a wet Afraha Stadium in Nakuru to witness another milestone in the road to March 4 elections.

Though they did not go into the details of the deal to be signed on Tuesday, they were explicit that Uhuru will be the Presidential candidate while Ruto will be Deputy President if the son of Kenya’s first President wins. It was a new chapter in the history of the duo, whose marketers have now jointly call them UhuRuto, but very much like in the 2002 race where Uhuru was the Kanu candidate and Ruto the faithful backer who would stand by him at Serena Hotel as he conceded defeat to President Kibaki.

Uhuru and Ruto, flanked by about 60 MPs, endorsed what has been trending in the social media as ‘a marriage’ between them, with Ruto being portrayed as the “bride”, but all in jest. An exchange of their caps, bearing their parties’ colours, a smile here and a warm embrace there, kind of ‘solemnised’ the union, in front of a multitude clad in TNA and URP colours.

The protocol

The two, who are facing international charges of crimes against humanity at The Hague, formally announced Uhuru would go for the Presidency while Ruto would be his deputy.

“We have agreed to form the next government where Uhuru Kenyatta will be the President and William Ruto will be the Deputy President,” Ruto announced to supporters of both parties. And to symbolise the protocol that only comes with State power, Ruto spoke before Uhuru and introduced the Gatundu South MP as “my friend, my brother, Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta.” Steady showers during the rally did not dampen the resolve of their supporters as they kept vigil waiting for the two to formally inform them of their union and Uhuru, perhaps cognizant of the African belief that rains come with blessings said: “This rain means God is with us in our journey.”

Ruto and Uhuru took a swipe at critics out to stop them from seeking the Presidency saying it was their constitutional right as Kenyans and the courts should not decide for voters whom their leaders should be. They told off their critics telling them to leave them alone and instead tell Kenyans what their development agenda was.

Ready to respect

“Our critics should stop wasting their time talking about Uhuru and Ruto and ICC. They should instead tell Kenyans what their agenda is as they seek the country’s leadership’ said Ruto.

Ruto, who had all along maintained he would not play a subordinate role to anyone, promised he was ready to be Uhuru’s running mate and scoffed at critics he said were claiming it was impossible for members of the Kalenjin and Kikuyu communities to vote together.

“Our opponents have been peddling lies that the two communities will never vote together. We are set to disapprove that this time round,’’ declared Ruto in the capital of Rift Valley. Without naming names the International Criminal Court suspects told foreign forces to keep off the coming polls and be ready to abide by Kenyans verdict at next year’s polls.

“We are telling our foreign friends that Kenya has come of age. Kenyans should be left alone to elect leaders of their choice and once that is done, they should be ready to respect Kenyans’ decision,’’ said Uhuru.

Ruto on his part said: “Those talking ill of Ruto and Uhuru are wasting their time. The ICC cases have formed the basis of debates but we are going to prove them wrong that Kenyans are united and want peace.”

Hordes of supporters had lined up the streets leading to the stadium donning T-shirts and caps emblazoned ‘UhuRuto’ and ‘Umoja Kenya’ and caravans with speakers blaring songs in praise of the two, made the town erupt with a medley of tunes. Bicycle taxi operators rode on the streets putting on TNA tee shirts and URP caps, to signify the union.

Campaigns symbolic

When Uhuru and Ruto took to the stage they said the union was meant to reconcile the country after the unprecedented post-poll upheavals that killed 1,133 people and displaced over 500,000. Nakuru was one of the hotspots and its choice for the launch of their campaigns was symbolic.

“We agreed to start our campaigns here because this is the hotbed of politics. When we are here, it is like we are talking to the entire country,” said Uhuru. Nakuru is the headquarters of the Rift Valley region and has got almost equal numbers of members of the two communities to which Uhuru and Ruto belong. It has been a contentious town in the deal between TNA-URP, in their zoning strategy, with the two parties feuding over control of the town. Its choice for the launch of the joint campaigns therefore was symbolic.

“We are in Rift Valley where every tribe resides and it is a message to them that this union is to bring all Kenyans together,” said Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Ongeri.

Ruto said the rally signaled a new chapter in the history of Kenya. “We are opening a new Chapter for this country. We are here to announce how we will move together,” explained Ruto before welcoming Uhuru to speak, following a symbolic embrace.

In the deal, TNA is also expected to have the position of the Speaker of the National Assembly while URP would run away with the Speaker of the Senate should the alliance form the next government. The two dwelt on unity, saying their union was one that was aimed at uniting the country, dismissing those who have branded the alliance tribal as the real tribalists.

The alliance had elicited some disquiet among Ruto’s supporters in the Rift Valley and the Eldoret North MP, moved to assure his supporters that they would work together and efficiently. “There are those who have been saying the Kalenjins cannot vote together with the Kikuyus, but we are telling them this time, it is going to happen,” Ruto said.

Live in peace

Reconciliation and unity was the tone of the rally as the two leaders, referred to by The Economist magazine as the ‘Coalition of the Accused’, tried to woo their supporters to elect them to the two powerful offices.

“Our alliance is to unite all Kenyans so that we live in peace. It is an alliance that unites all,” said Uhuru.

“We want to reconcile this country, we want to bring all Kenyans together so that we live in peace,” Ruto said.

Internal Security Minister Katoo ole Metito called on the leaders to give the outfit a national look by opening doors for further talks with other parties and holding rallies across the country.

On the way to from Nairobi to Nakuru, Uhuru addressed supporters on major towns along the busy route, many times causing traffic blockages.