What is Raila's plan?

By Peter Atsiaya

Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s reconciliation mission with members of his party in the Rift Valley was boosted after Minister for Agriculture Sally Kosgei indicated she was in his camp.

And their public announcement of her comeback was loaded with political symbolism, as it was done in Uasin Gishu County, the political stronghold of Raila’s rival, William Ruto, the MP for Eldoret North.

Raila toured Uasin Gishu County yesterday where he said Kosgei’s "comeback" was the beginning of better things for ODM that has been perceived as a divided party.

The frosty relationship between the Prime Minister and Dr Kosgei heightened after Raila opened the controversial Butali Sugar factory in Kakamega, which she skipped.

Mzee David Cheluget acknowledges greetings from Agriculture Minister Dr Sally Kosgei, as Prime Minister Raila Odinga looks on. The PM attended a meeting at Cheluget’s farm at Tuiyo in Eldoret South constituency, Friday. PHOTO: PETER OCHIENG’/STANDARD

Although at the time Kosgei was guarded in her words she left no doubt where her heart was. She even asked the PM to sack her, as a minister.

"I don’t need this flag, after all we sometimes use it only to evade traffic jams," she said, during a rally in her Aldai constituency, which Ruto attended.

Kosgei was quoted saying, "Kenyan politics lack ideology and is highly regionalised ... so if my people go up the hill, I also go up with them. Who am I to act in isolation?"

Local farmer

Kosgei abandoned Raila last year in unclear circumstances to join the Ruto camp. Ruto is one of the party’s two deputy leaders.

The other is Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Government, Musalia Mudavadi.

The shifting of allegiance by Kosgei to Ruto came three months before Ruto made an initial appearance before the International Criminal Court, alongside five other suspects over the 2007 post-election violence.

Pressure had been mounting on ODM MPs in the Rift Valley allied to Raila prior to The Hague date.

Apart from Ruto, former Industrialisation Minister Henry Kosgey and Kass FM presenter Joshua Sang – suspects in The Hague case – are from the Rift Valley.

The other suspects are Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Head of the Civil Service Francis Muthaura and Postmaster General Hussein Ali.

Yesterday, Kosgei did not want to talk about her differences with Raila, as she addressed the meeting. A local farmer, Mzee David Kiptoo Cheluget, hosted the meeting at his Tuiyo Farm in Eldoret South constituency.

Area MP Peris Simam did not attend.

Kosgei, an experienced public servant – having served in senior positions in the Kanu regime, including as Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet – is known to weigh her words carefully.

"I don’t want to say much but when you see me here with Raila, you know what it means. I am a leader who does not believe in lying," said the Aldai MP.

Cabinet minister Franklin Bett (Roads), James Orengo (Lands), Assistant Ministers Ayiecho Olweny, Alfred Khangati and Oburu Odinga, and MPs Wilson Litole, Julius Murgor and Musa Sirma accompanied the Prime Minister.

Raila also met Kalenjin elders led by Said Kaittany and their Luo counterparts, under Ker Opiyo Otondi at Cheluget’s home. They discussed progress on reconciliation efforts with rebel MPs.

Rescind decision

Raila later addressed wananchi at the home when they learnt of his visit. He explained to them the cause of his differences with Ruto.

"I am being accused of taking Ruto’s name to The Hague, failing to assist youth arrested over post-election violence, and evicting the Kalenjin community from the Mau Forest. Those accusing me got their facts wrong and are spreading propaganda for their selfish political interests," said Raila.

He said that he was in the forefront of pushing for a local tribunal to try post-election violence suspects. The PM said he intervened to stop Environment Minister John Michuki from using General Service Unit personnel to evict people who had settled in the Mau Forest.

"When some people in the Government realised that I would gain political mileage by peacefully removing forest invaders, they have decided to sit on the money allocated for resettlement of the evictees so as to make them IDPs and point an accusing finger at Raila," he said.

Bett said Kosgei’s decision to mend fences with Raila would strengthen ODM in the Rift Valley and enhance Raila’s chances of winning the presidency.

"I support Kosgei’s decision to bury her differences with Raila. ODM leaders should be ready to embrace forgiveness and reconciliation like Kosgei. They should focus on ensuring that the party produces a president in the 2012 General Election," he said.

Raila told residents who were thinking of abandoning him because of the propaganda by his destructors to rescind their decision, saying he meant well for the community and all Kenyans.

"I will not forget the support you gave me during the 2007 General Election," the PM said.