Is Kalonzo the odd man out?

By Peter Mutai and Edwin Cheserek
Was Mr William Ruto’s declaration that the "KKK" alliance would seek to give Kenya a President aged below 50 years a coded message to Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, who is 58? Was there more to the statement by the Eldoret North MP on Sunday in Kericho than meets the eye on what is happening within the "KKK" alliance, which is the acronym for Kikuyu, Kalenjin and Kamba communities?
The two questions seemed to be reinforced by Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta’s reference to a "greedy" politician, whom he compared to a hyena that follows a man right to his doorstep, thinking the hands swinging from his trunk were pieces of chunky meat about to fall off. Both hit out a politician they claimed they positioning himself to reap from their predicament but warned he would not succeed.

Cunning moment? Eldoret North MP William Ruto and Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta could not hold back their laughter when they shared a platform with Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka on Sunday at an ordination ceremony in Kericho. [Photo: FILE]

On its face value, this seemed to be directed at Mr Raila Odinga who fell out with Uhuru and Ruto, but Ruto’s statement, and those of some Rift Valley MPs, appears to point at Kalonzo.
Kenyans were left trying to decipher the meaning of the analogy, and the answer to the first questions given Kalonzo is 13 years older than Ruto and five older than Uhuru, both of whom are in the age bracket Ruto talked about.
Kalonzo was born on December 24, 1953, Uhuru on October 26, 1961, and Ruto on December 21, 1966.
The statements have set off a flurry of discussions within the political circles of the three politicians, with some arguing Kalonzo is the odd man out in the union of the three politicians. A Cabinet minister revealed to The Standard the VP did in fact tell him he was shocked by what he saw as direct attack at the ordination of bishop in Kericho.
"I was shocked when the VP confided in me that Ruto and Uhuru had even used the installation ceremony to undercut him politically," said the minister.
Kalonzo’s oddity appears to go beyond the fact that unlike Ruto and Uhuru, he is the only one who is not on the list of the "Ocampo Six", whose fate the International Criminal Court (ICC) will decide in March. But if the alliance sticks and ICC decides Uhuru and Ruto have a case to answer, pundits believe Kalonzo would strive to ‘inherit’ their communities’ votes.
The story would, however, be different if the ICC judges deny Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo’s plea for summonses for them to appear at The Hague, or they are summoned and the case is heard and completed early enough for them to run in 2012 presidential race — with the final sentence being they are innocent of all the charges.
Leading opponent
But there are insiders within the Ruto camp who say their man fears Kalonzo is pursuing a second political miracle, after the one he declared in 2007 of squeezing himself between President Kibaki and his then leading opponent Mr Raila Odinga. As the argument goes, Ruto and Uhuru suspect he is positioning himself to pick up the spoils should the ICC’s axe fall on them.
There was also talk that Uhuru and Ruto were keen to have the Kamba community in the "KKK" alliance, but under the banner of Mutito MP Kiema Kilonzo. However, insiders say the ‘substitute’ they have for Kalonzo is Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa.
Konoin MP Dr Julius Kones, one of the Rift MPs closest to Ruto, revealed Kalonzo was not in "their equation" as they planed for 2012. "Kalonzo is trying to attach himself to Ruto and Uhuru, but as their allies, we are not interested in him," he said.
Kones said Ruto’s allies only trust Uhuru as "the leader they can form an alliance with". Emgwen MP Elijah Lagat revealed they have an alternative for Kalonzo as their group seeks support from Eastern Province.
"Every aspiring candidate is worried of Kalonzo because of what he did in the last General Election. That is why Ruto and Uhuru are interested in Kiema Kilonzo and Mithika Linturi," added Lagat.
Nominated MP Musa Sirma predicted Kalonzo’s failure to accept to be Raila’s running mate in last elections would also be replicated in 2012.
"It is obvious that Kalonzo will not accept anything less than then the presidential ticket even if he is defeated during the primaries," argued Sirma.
He also warned Ruto to tread carefully because of past voting trends in Central Province.
"The people of Central are known for having interest in their own, and the group ought to understand and cast their net beyond the communities," said Sirma.
Sources revealed Ruto and Uhuru trust each other more than they do Kalonzo, and prefer to work with Kiema in Ukambani, and Linturi in the larger Meru. Dujis MP Aden Duale is also said to be their pointman in North Eastern, while Mohamud Ali (Moyale MP) is expected to represent them in upper Eastern. Kaloleni MP Kazungu Kambi is their ‘captain’ in Coast Province.
Referendum
Lagat said Kalonzo’s ‘wavering stand’ during the referendum, which earned him the nickname ‘water melon’, was still "fresh in the minds of Kenyans and leaders seeking to forge political alliances".
He added: "The two MPs (Kiema and Linturi) are the most trusted because they worked closely with Ruto in campaigning against the new constitution and remained united in defeat."
The issue of ICC, he said, made Ruto and Uhuru allies to come together to share their dilemma, and propose who might be their successor, should the court hinder them from running for presidency.
Naivasha MP John Mututho, a close ally of Uhuru, said they were ready to work with Kalonzo if he was ready for a nomination contest with the other two leaders.
"Hatutaki mtu ambaye atasema amepitia katikati yao," he said. (We do not want a person who will say he wants to squeeze himself between them)
The Director of Communications in Uhuru’s office, Mr Munyori Buku, said Uhuru did not want to comment on the issue of Kalonzo, but said the Finance minister was for national unity.
Speaking on behalf of Uhuru, Buku said: "We are for national unity and we are working with all Kenyans. Those who speak of "KKK" are not speaking for us."
Ruto could not be reached for comment, but a confidant revealed he believes Kalonzo was behind Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo’s insistence on the ICC option.
"We are only going to work with politicians who are 50 years and below ahead of next year’s polls. We want the Old Guard to give a chance to the youths of this country to take over power," Ruto said on Sunday.
Another Rift Valley MP said the statement targeted both Kalonzo and Raila.