Uhuru, select few seek closer working ties

By STEPHEN MAKABILA and OSINDE OBARE

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta this weekend leads youthful MPs under the ‘Green Alliance’ flagship to a retreat as Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka’s close associates scheme to redeem him politically following a poor referendum show by the ‘Yes’ team in lower Eastern.

Tourism Minister Najib Balala and Assistant Minister Cecily Mbarire will attend the Uhuru retreat set for a secret location outside the city, according to Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa.

"Uhuru and I will lead a team including Balala and Mbarire to a retreat to develop closer working relationships. The team formed shall include many like-minded leaders," said Mr Wamalwa.

There are speculations that other than Balala, another senior ODM-leaning minister will also attend the retreat.

"The success of the Green team demonstrates that wherever Kenyans rise above tribal, regional, partisan and sectoral interests, they can achieve unity of purpose and great things for this nation," said Wamalwa.

He said after the promulgation of the new constitution, politics in Kenya will forever change and leaders will have to build formidable alliances to contest and win general elections.

Blessing in disguise

At the same time, Kangundo MP Johnstone Muthama, who is a close associate of the VP, has dismissed claims that Kalonzo failed to deliver Ukambani votes to the ‘Yes’ camp at the August 4 referendum.

Mr Muthama also maintained claims that Kalonzo might not be able to deliver in the 2012 General Election because of the referendum results in Eastern Province were misplaced.

"Issues have been raised about those who have delivered and those who haven’t at the referendum. But the referendum was not about this or that politician. It was about Kenya and Kenyans," Muthama said.

Another close associate of the VP who declined to be named also maintained all was not lost for Kalonzo, and that the ‘No’ vote in Ukambani could be a blessing in disguise if he pursues the ‘KKK’ alliance.

"By voting 55 per cent to pass the new law, which delivers great benefits to their community and region, the people of Ukambani also made a statement in support of their son Kalonzo, who was a key pillar of the ‘Yes’ campaign," said the associate.

The associate further noted by voting 45 per cent to reject the document, the region and community revealed the influence of the Church, which is a key Kalonzo constituency, and interestingly they had some spare votes to cast together with the Kalenjin — a solid investment to recall in 2012.

"By this token the VP has lost nothing and if the game of winners and losers did not take away from the import of this historic period I would play and say he gained," the associate added.

Kalonzo himself has called for tolerance as the country prepares for the promulgation of the new constitution.

Generational change

‘I want to put the record straight. I was called a watermelon because I insisted on tolerance and dialogue. I want to remove it out of my chest," noted Kalonzo on Sunday.

However, former Chief of Protocol in the Prime Minister’s office Tony Gachoka ruled out chances of ‘KKK’ being revived, noting Central Kenya wants to pursue politics of ‘generational change’ and not ethnic alliances.

"We as Central Kenya professionals are against ethnic alliances because they are not the best for national cohesion," said Mr Gachoka.

In defending Kalonzo, Muthama argued the vote for Ukambani was not a vote for or against the VP. He said owing to the fact that Kalonzo was the only senior politician who called for dialogue between the ‘No’ and ‘Yes’ camps before the referen logue, the split vote in Ukambani reflects a scenario where the general consensus is for dialogue.

"The almost 50-50 vote in Ukambani proves that, unlike in many other parts of the country, people were never intimidated or coerced to vote for this or that, which is democracy in practice. This is because unlike a general election where they are bound to vote as a bloc for Kalonzo as happened in 2007, when we come to issues the scenario is altogether different," added Muthama.

He went on: "In 2012 it will be different as the playing field will also be different and the VP will still be the person to watch."

According to Muthama, Kalonzo was the only senior politician who did not lock horns with the clergy.

Initiate dialogue

"Politicians in Ukambani were not bribed or intimidated to toe the line, as happened in many parts of the country. The almost 50-50 votes was the price the ODM-Kenya high command paid for being fair," added Muthama.

On the expected Green Alliance retreat, Wamalwa told The Standard a new crop of leaders must put together a formidable team to contest the 2012 General Election.

"It is true we are talking about a Green Alliance but this is not only a movement about politics, but about generational transformation in the leadership of our country, which can be best implemented under the new constitution," added Wamalwa.

The Green Alliance has so far held rallies in Nyahururu, Mathioya, Runyenjes, Kiminini, Kitale’s Kenyatta stadium, Gatundu South and Thika.

Down in Western, Wamalwa has joined forces with three ministers in fronting for a formidable unity of the Luhya community for better political bargaining power.

Wamalwa and ministers Moses Wetang’ula, Noah Wekesa and Soita Shitanda have put a stop to using burial platforms to wash their dirty linen.

Former minister and Luhya elder Burudi Nabwera has been mandated to initiate dialogue and reconcile leaders besides steering Luhya talks to enhance the unity to consolidate the community vote ahead of 2012.

Ascend to power

Addressing mourners during the burial of former Assistant Commissioner of Police Solomon Muyundo in Kiminini, Trans-Nzoia West District, the leaders regretted that disunity has caused the community a chance to ascend to power.

Nabwera, who accepted the task, challenged politicians eyeing the presidency from the community to stop relying on votes from within, but seek support from other communities.

Mr Shitanda warned those jostling for the top seat not to be cheated that the Luhya vote will help one of them ascend to power.

The Malava MP and Housing minister challenged Dr Wekesa, Cyrus Jirongo, Mr Wetang’ula and Wamalwa to unite the community and make political alliances with other regions in order to achieve their presidential dreams.

"Never be cheated that the Luhya vote will take you anywhere. And if we want to push one of our own he must stand as a Kenyan and not a Luhya," he urged.