What are Uhuru, Ruto and Kalonzo up to?

By Vitalis Kimutai and Boniface Gikandi

The common denominator between Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Higher Education Minister William Ruto is their shared past in working with Prime Minister Raila Odinga, and their previous depictions of him as a cunning, even overbearing politician. Yet, they too, like him, want the presidency.

Lately the trio has been the talking point in political circles because of their activities and claims that the KKK alliance, initials of their communities: Kalenjin (Ruto), Kikuyu (Uhuru), and Kalonzo (Kamba) has been reborn. It is believed this is the vehicle they are trying to bring back on the road to State House come 2012.

Yesterday, six MPs from Rift Valley allied to Ruto — Mr Charles Keter, Mr Benjamin Langat, Dr Julius Kones, Mrs Peris Simam , Mr Elijah Lagat and Mr Joshua Kuttuny — confirmed they were searching for a new alliance. Kuttuny confirmed Kalonzo and Uhuru held private meetings with Ruto after the referendum results.

"Ruto met Kalonzo and Uhuru separately before the three later held a joint meeting recently," Kuttuny told The Standard on telephone.

Kuttuny revealed the three analysed the referendum results and explored ways of working together in future. He also said there were ongoing consultations with leaders from Coast and North Eastern Provinces.

But another MP close to Ruto dismissed the talk arguing: "We are pre-occupied with implementation of the new Constitution and have no time for KKK alliances. Issues of 2012 should take a backstage as the country is not in an electioneering mood."

On his part, Keter said: "It is very clear that we are not wanted in ODM and it beats us why they get worried when we make alternative political arrangements." Kones also confirmed that Rift Valley MPs were consulting leaders from other regions, and not necessarily the KKK fraternity.

"The voting pattern at the referendum was clear that we have support across the country," Dr Kones said.

He added: "It is also clear that we have disengaged ourselves from the Luo Nyanza, as they deserted us even after we rallied behind them in the last General Election."

It is this alliance’s story that dominated the political scene immediately word spread that Uhuru, who is also the Finance Minister, visited Raila at his Karen home together with his family, and offered a symbolic goat as a goodwill gift.

Raila meeting

Though it was said it lacked a political agenda, the visit was rich in symbolism, and fired debate on whether this was not the springboard for other ‘things’. It also drew attention to the Uhuru-Ruto-Kalonzo outfit, and raised the question; was Uhuru testing the waters with Raila, or did someone leak news of the visit to deflect attention from their KKK alliance?

Indeed, sources within Uhuru camp reveal he was on Sunday a crestfallen politician as he was swamped by enquiries over what was in his meeting with Raila, and felt he may have been ‘set up’. He is also said to have at one point resolved to dismiss speculation of a political angle at his public meeting in Maragua on Sunday. But the duty to turn the glare from his visit appeared to have fallen on Ruto who, at a fundraiser on the same day in Ukambani — Kalonzo’s turf —gave a donation from his two ‘friends’.

Uhuru’s visit to Raila was triggered by questions from a few Central Kenya elders on why neither Uhuru, nor a member of the wider Kenyatta family had not visited the PM in hospital or at his home when he was recovering.

The impression Uhuru was given was that this reflected badly on him in the eyes of Kenyans. Then on August 5, at Kenyatta International Conference Centre, while Kibaki and Raila led a ‘Yes’ victory meeting, the PM is said to have asked Uhuru why he had not come over to see him. Those in the know say this was when the deal was reached for the visit, but on Uhuru’s insistence, it would be non-political, and should not be reported.

Why? It turns out before the visit, Uhuru hosted Ruto at his home on Dennis Pritt Road to discuss post-referendum ‘politics’. There are also those who believe the two had met with Kalonzo at Karen Blixen Coffee Garden, but the VP later left for an official visit to China.

Sources told The Standard the two former political allies — who were fast-tracked up the Kanu hierarchy by former President Moi — were in a jovial mood when they met at Uhuru’s home. It was a far cry from their battle for the control of Kanu and the 2007’s fall-out in ODM-Kenya, which was finally left to Kalonzo. It bore a semblance of the 2002 presidential campaigns, when Ruto was Uhuru’s point man in Kanu.

After the visit to Raila, Uhuru downplayed its significance.

At the Mwala fundraiser, Ruto presented Sh50,000 from Uhuru. On his part, Uhuru presented Sh50,000 from Ruto at the fundraising in Maragua.

Political twist

"That shows how close the two leaders are and nothing will push them in different directions," explained a source familiar with their discussions.

"Uhuru had a precondition for his visit to Raila’s home: that no politics would be discussed. We were shocked to see a political twist being given to the visit," said the source that requested anonymity.

Analysts argue some politicians are jittery because the new Constitution demands a winning presidential candidate must garner more than 50 per cent of votes cast or there is a run-off between the top two.

Yesterday, Keter, Kuttuny and Dr Kones accused Raila of targeting Rift Valley MPs opposed to his ideas, and gave the example of the sacking of Keiyo South MP Jackson Kiptanui.