Why all is not well in Ruto camp

By Stephen Makabila

Eldoret North MP William Ruto’s presidential bid has run into political turbulence with just days into the General Election year.

His allies from the Rift Valley are embroiled in a crisis of confidence spat, his running mate of choice, Chirau Ali Mwakwere, insists he is also in the race for president, and his planned takeover of the

UDM leader William Ruto (with MPs allied to the party during a retreat in a Naivasha hotel. Photo: Antony Gitonga/Standard

United Democratic Movement, now rebranded, has bludgeoned into a rebellion.

Further, the former Cabinet minister is awaiting the verdict of career-breaking crimes against humanity case at the International Criminal Court whose negative aftermath could spell doom to his presidential ambition.

Two other politically precarious cases, one seeking to have him expelled from ODM over his rebellion, and another by ousted UDM chairman Lt-Gen (Rtd) John Koech, seeking to block 27 officials allied to Ruto from taking over the party, could be determined early next year.

But speaking to The Standard On Sunday, Ruto insists he has UDM under his grip, adding he was scheming to have the party control Parliament in terms of House majority after next year’s General Election.

The Eldoret North MP, who has shown his ability to mobilise political support, said his party was targeting five million registered members across the country, and had so far netted one million members.

"We in UDM have assembled a huge political machine. We have registered one million members. Our target is to hit between four to five million at the end of the recruitment," Ruto said.

He also said that Rift Valley was an ultimate UDM turf, and that the party has spread to Coast, Upper Eastern, North Eastern, and Meru.

On Thursday last week, Ruto called a crisis meeting of UDM officials and friendly MPs in Naivasha to discuss the challenges ahead. But his ally Charles Keter saw tension among some of the former minister’s allies in the South Rift. He said individuals who have lost popularity, and who want to hang onto to Ruto’s coat tails to swim in the UDM political wave fuel the tension.

"The wrangles will have no effect on Ruto’s presidential bid; he is popular in the Rift Valley. Nothing can stop his sweeping wave. What we are seeing are leaders who have lost control in their areas, and who want to take UDM to survive in the wave," Keter said.

But even as Ruto insisted things were looking good in his newfound political home, party Secretary General, Martin Kamwaro, added another spin to the confusing scenario.

He said UDM has not made any decision on who would be its flag bearer in the 2012 General Election.

"While it’s only honourable Ruto who has publicly shown interest in contesting the Presidency on UDM ticket, doors are not yet closed. The party will give all equal opportunity in the primaries," said Mr Kamwaro.

Kaddu leader Cyrus Jirongo and Mwakwere are expected to challenge Ruto for the party flagship later next year. The UDM official also maintained that Joseph Chirchir was the official party chairman, and not former House Speaker Francis Kaparo, who is a Ruto ally.

"Kaparo is a lawyer who knows the process one goes through to become party chairman. As things stand now, there is no vacancy for that position in UDM," added Kamwaro. As UDM heat continued to swelter Koech travelled to Bondo on Saturday last week, for a meeting with the Prime Minister Raila Odinga, while Kaparo is reported to have met the PM at his Nairobi office on Tuesday, but details of the meetings remain scanty.

Confirming his lakeside trip Koech said: "Yes, we talked about several issues with the PM. I can tell you Kenyans need a focused leader to take us to the next level. I can only see that in the PM."

Koech accused Ruto of having lost direction and wants the Kalenjin to sink with him.

"Kalenjins have realised the falsehoods Ruto used to spread about Raila were not about the community, but himself.

"All the falsehoods Ruto has been peddling against the PM, such as the Mau evictions, Kalenjin youth languishing in jails owing to post-election violence, have since dissipated," said Koech.

Koech is also in court demanding orders to have Kamwaro, who is also a member of Catering and Tourism Development Levy Trustee, Francis Koech, the UDM vice-chairman who is also member of the Kenya Seed Company Board, and Joseph Lagat, Rehema Jaldessa, and Moses Cheboi declared State Officers and barred from holding political party posts.

Another top UDM official, who did not want to be named for fear of victimisation, revealed that there was a rebellion within party NEC against Ruto over claims of dictatorship. The official said half of the NEC has opposed what he described as his "modus operandi".

He said they have been opposing Ruto’s bid to change officials without following party rules or involving current officials.

In the South Rift, Chepalungu MP Isaac Rutto has opened war with Belgut MP Charles Keter and Konoin MP Julius Kones over political control of the Kipsigis.

"Ruto is finished on the ground. We wonder what he is really up to, but we do think he thought he could package himself as the spokesman of the Kipsigis to survive," Dr Kones said.