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.
Kalonzo has complained he was being treated with suspicion by Ruto and Uhuru group, who in his view saw him as one shedding crocodile tears over their crimes against humanity cases at The Hague.
Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, who is running for president on a United Democratic Forum ticket, and who has had discussions with Ruto and Uhuru on a joint candidate, did not attend the meeting.
When Uhuru launched The National Alliance, Ruto stopped by but he did not address the meeting, a task that was left to Wamalwa. Ruto was on Thursday in town but preferred to concentrate in the activities of United Republican Party.
Mudavadi, through his spokesman, Kibisu Kabatesi, dismissed the Uhuru meeting, arguing his side would not have been party to a forum where they would be endorsing their competitors.
“We were not invited but why would you want to go to a meeting where your competitor is being endorsed?” asked Kabatesi.
Uhuru met Party of Action presidential aspirant, Raphael Tuju, PNU Alliance Chairman Titus Ibui, Alliance Party of Kenya, organising secretary Stephen Karau, Nominated MP Musikari Kombo (Ford-Kenya), Wamalwa, and Kiraitu.
Ruto and URP Chairman Francis ole Kaparo downplayed their absence from the meeting. They said they were in their own National Executive Council meeting.
Ruto added: “URP believes this election is about issues and how to transform the lives of Kenyans. It is not about individuals. We believe in higher ideals.”
But Ruto was unusually guarded in his statement and had even declined to speak to the Press, saying Kaparo being an able chairman should respond to all the questions. But upon prodding, he gave a short statement but declined to answer further questions.
Ruto also declined to discuss his recent claim Wamalwa had betrayed G7 Alliance by engaging in other alliances, something that Uhuru, too, did on Wednesday.
Technical team
“No, let us not discuss that issue, today we are here to address URP matters and not other matters,” Ruto said, when asked about his position on Wamalwa. Kaparo said the party would continue to engage parties with similar ideals ahead of elections, even as they compete for votes.
Kaparo argued TNA had a right to enter into alliance with parties it choses to. “They are putting their house (TNA) in order as we also seek to strengthen ours. We encourage dialogue and we will indeed dialogue with our colleagues on several issues,” Kaparo said.
When Uhuru’s group finished meeting, they announced they had agreed to work together ahead of March 4, elections. The three presidential contenders at Norfolk – Uhuru, Tuju, and Wamalwa – agreed to nominate one person each to craft modalities of working out an alliance.
“I can tell you with authority that each of the parties and presidential aspirants have agreed to assign one person each, to a technical team that would see into it that our parties work together,” said Tuju.
They also insisted Kalonzo was party to the unity drive. Tuju, who spoke on behalf of the leaders, said the VP, who is in Ghana, was represented.
Another prominent face in the alliance is Trade minister Ali Chirau Mwakwere, whom Ruto had named his running mate.
The G7 Alliance had initially run joint campaigns under the guise of ‘prayer rallies’ following confirmation of charges against Ruto and Uhuru by International Criminal Court.
