Presidential candidate headache for G7 Alliance

By Stephen Makabila

The burning question of who becomes the G-7 presidential candidate has the alliance’s leading lights cracking their heads as 2012 draws nearer.

The question emerged at the Monday Norfolk, Nairobi, meeting where Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka was put to task over his reported claims that the alliance does not exist.

One of those at the meeting said: "The VP was put to task on why he claimed the alliance does not exist but defended himself saying he was quoted out of context. He was told to be a team player and agree to a joint nomination to decide the alliance’s candidate."

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa, Eldoret North MP, William Ruto, and Trade Minister, Chirau Ali Mwakwere, attended the meeting.

Other members of the G-7 Alliance, including Dujis MP, Aden Duale, and former MP, Omingo Magara, did not attend.

"During the meeting, there was an impression by Uhuru, Ruto and Wamalwa that they were united, but the VP was not.

It’s believed the leaders were supposed to have met on Wednesday (August 24), but the Cabinet reshuffle announced by President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga prompted the change of schedule.

While Ruto and Duale were dropped from the Cabinet, Wamalwa who had been expected to secure a slot missed out on the changes.

The unity test in the alliance had been subject of debate and the PM, who is their main rival, recently challenged the group to name their torchbearer.

The Standard On Sunday established that Uhuru has argued that since he has been at the top in successive opinion polls, he should be the alliance’s flag bearer, but Kalonzo feels he is the senior-most and deserves approval.

Compromise candidate

It has also been speculated in the past that Wamalwa could be the compromise candidate. But sources confirmed to The Standard On Sunday Uhuru and Wamalwa have entered a secret political pact and may soon launch joint campaigns.

"Unlike Kalonzo whom Uhuru and Wamalwa feel may be helpful after the first round of elections, their reasoning is that Ruto should be an integral part of the alliance for it to remain strong," a Wamalwa ally told The Standard On Sunday.

The G-7 Alliance was given a lifeline after amendments on the Political Parties law allowed pre-election mergers and coalitions.

But the goings on within the alliance points to a possibility of the leaders going separate ways before re-uniting after the first round of elections.

While the VP recently rebranded his ODM-Kenya party ready for the General Election, Ruto has been popularising UDM as his presidential vehicle.

"Due to pressure from their supporters, I do not see either Ruto or Kalonzo pulling out of the presidential race. If there is any likelihood of unity in the alliance, it may come at the run-off stage in case there is no clear winner in round one," said political scientist, Frank Matanga of Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology.

But speaking in Kitale on August 23 during the eighth anniversary of the death of former Vice-President Michael Kijana Wamalwa, Uhuru declared that the G7 Alliance would forge a united front hinting at joint nominations where they would support the winner to run for president.

" G7 has agreed that they will hold joint nomination and whoever wins would be supported by the others to form the next government," he said.

Despite doubts over his commitment to G-7, Kalonzo’s allies have maintained he was firmly in.

They have dismissed claims that the VP has been seeking an alliance with ODM and maintained that he would seek presidential nomination in G-7.

MPs Philip Kaloki (Kibwezi), and Victor Munyaka (Machakos Town) were on Thursday quoted saying Kalonzo, as an ODM-Kenya leader, would not seek alliance with ODM.

"Mr Kalonzo would only work with like minded leaders within the G-7," Prof Kaloki said. He said reports that Kalonzo had sent emissaries to ODM to seek an alliance with the PM was ‘propaganda’ aimed at breaking up the G-7 Alliance.

"The team is not yet complete. Others are coming to form an alliance to go for nominations next year to choose one leader," Kaloki said.