Sunday, August 15, 2010

Speculation as Uhuru and PM warm up to each other

By Gakuu Mathenge and Ben Agina

As Kenya strides towards a new era of the Second Republic, a newfound comradeship between the most politically active sons of the country’s founding fathers is dramatically taking shape.

The Standard On Sunday has reliably established that hitherto foes, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, have been warming up towards one another, leading to a high-profile family get-together last Sunday.

Coming a couple of days before the switch to a new Constitution, the timing of the apparent political cease-fire is curious. Uhuru is son to Founding President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, while Raila is son to Kenya’s first Vice-President, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.

Yesterday, Raila’s elder brother Oburu Oginga revealed details of the five-hour visit by the Kenyatta family to the PM’s Karen home in Nairobi. Uhuru led members of his family, who included his brother Muhoho Kenyatta, sister Kristina Pratt and nephew Jomo Gechaga, to Raila’s home where they arrived at 11am and left shortly after 3pm.

Former First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta had a prior engagement in Gatundu and was not present but according to Oburu, she sent her family with plenty of gifts, that included foodstuff, for the PM’s family.

Symbolic Gesture

They also carried along for breeding a male and female South African Dorper sheep — fast growing meat producing animal popular for ceremonies and special events.

In addition, they had a sheep and a goat to be slaughtered "for meat and soup to hasten the Prime Minister’s recovery".

And although Oburu, who serves as Uhuru’s assistant in the Finance ministry, was quick to point out that they did not discuss anything concrete about a political alliance, tongues are bound to wag. In the Kikuyu culture, goats are very symbolic, especially in dispute resolution and cementing of friendships or restoration of old ones gone sour.

The Kenyatta and Oginga families have had a long-running love-hate relationship, majorly resultant from public rivalry of the fiercely political families.

Says Mzee Simon Kiago Wachira, the chairman of Kikuyu Council of Elders:

"Goats have deep symbolism in our culture. What counts is not the goat but the blood spilt on being slaughtered. It demonstrates burying of hatchets and shows respect and goodwill when one brings a goat to the homestead of someone recovering from an ailment".

Asked if he was surprised that Uhuru took a goat to the PM, the old man reacted: "Not at all, the two have stepped on each other’s toes on many issues, it is a positive sign if they could make up to take the country forward." Declining to confirm or deny whether a Raila-Uhuru political pact was in the making, the Central Province Parliamentary Group chairman, Mr Ephraim Maina, welcomed Uhuru’s goodwill gesture.

"Such a meeting is positive in whatever form it comes. But the fact that two leaders’ meeting captures the attention of the country means the anxiety and apprehension from the 2008 conflict still looms large in people’s minds. National healing and reconciliation efforts should be doubled before the 2012 elections push-andshove take centre stage," said Maina.

Transition Issues

Energy Minister and PNU Secretary-General Kiraitu Murungi was equally guarded: "We are leaving all options open. However, the Uhuru-Raila meeting is a positive thing. The next five years are very crucial for Kenya. For successful implementation of the new constitution and transition to the Second Republic, the ideal situation would be a Government of National Unity (GNU) that includes Raila, Uhuru, (Vice-President Kalonzo) Musyoka, Martha Karua, Prof George Saitoti and William Ruto". Even as the politicians downplay the meeting of the Kenyattas and Ogingas, another curious addition to the Raila-Uhuru saga is US Ambassador Michael Ranneberger’s recent visit to the PM’s home.

Upon leaving the PM’s home on the same day, the envoy proceeded PM’s spokesman, Mr Dennis Onyango, would say about the visit.

New Coalitions

Analysts were quick to note that the visit came after the PM declared during the victory speech for the ‘Yes’ group at the KICC grounds: "Vile mnatuona hapa, ndio mtatuona huko mbele (the way you see us here is the same way you will see us in the days to come)," a statement taken to mean that new coalitions were afoot. The PM is famous for his loaded idiomatic statements that have come to be a hallmark of his public speaking. According to Oburu, Uhuru paid his boss a visit to wish him quick recovery after the surgery.

"We had general discussions about our two families and how they were close during Independence," said Oburu. Also present at the talks was Raila’s wife, Ida, and his eldest son, Fidel. According to Oburu, they recollected how the late Jaramogi insisted that there would be no Independence until Jomo Kenyatta was released from prison.

He recalled how Jaramogi was abandoned by some politicians who thought Kenyatta would not be released but when the pressure to have the late President out of incarceration mounted, the same politicians joined the fight for his (Kenyatta’s) freedom. "We talked about the need for our families not to have unnecessary wars but cement the long-standing relationship that we have had since Independence. We emphasised the need for us to continue talking about our friendship," said Oburu.

At the end of the meeting, Muhoho explained to Ida how to take care of the Dorper.

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