Why Kibaki talks with Rift MPs raising storm

By Stephen Makabila and Beauttah Omanga
President Kibaki’s meetings with a section of MPs from Rift Valley and Western provinces has sparked some political storm.
Among MPs allied to Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his loyal Deputy Musalia Mudavadi, such meetings are viewed as not being in order, since their leaders are not usually consulted.
ODM MPs from Western Province last week snubbed a meeting of legislators from the region with President Kibaki at his Harambee House office, on the basis of not having been consulted or involved in its planning.
Senior ministers from the region, including Mudavadi, Wycliffe Oparanya, Dr Paul Otuoma, and Assistant ministers Sospeter Ojaamong and Manyala Keya were among those who snubbed the meeting believed to have been organised by PNU ministers Dr Noah Wekesa and Soita Shitanda.
But Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa who attended the meeting said development was its main agenda and that leaders should not fail to unite on matters of growth.
"The meeting was all about development in Western Province, including the revival of the Pan-African Paper Mills in Webuye," added Eugene.
Eugene indicated the President had agreed to visit Western Province and parts of Trans Nzoia between February 25 and 28 to address development issues.
"You do not need to be involved in planning to attend. I was invited even though I was not involved in the planning, but I attended," added Eugene.
In Rift Valley, Energy Assistant minister Langat Magerer wants President Kibaki to stop hosting ODM rebel MPs from the province in the absence of their party leader.
Eldoret North legislator William Ruto, Agriculture Minister Sally Kosgei, former Industrialisation Minister Henry Kosgey and Belgut MP Charles Keter have in recent weeks had meetings with Kibaki without the knowledge of Raila, the ODM party leader.
Ouster scheme
Mr Ruto has reportedly been scheming to oust Raila from the position of Prime Minister before next year’s General Election.
"It amounts to bad faith when either of the principals meet MPs from the other wing of Government secretly," argued Magerer.
According to Magerer, President Kibaki has fuelled the falling out in ODM by having a soft spot for the ODM rebels allied to Ruto.
He said it amounted to undermining Raila’s leadership in ODM by working with MPs who have already rebelled against him and who are also plotting his ouster.
"Rift Valley MPs allied to Ruto are getting impetus to cause more trouble in ODM, including attempting a coup in the party, because the President has a soft spot for them," added Magerer.
The Kipkelion MP also cited the President’s trip to Eldoret where he was hosted by Ruto and where weighty statements and the PM came under heavy criticism as part of evidence that the President was undermining the PM’s grip of his party ODM.
Strong candidate
He expressed concern that of late the MPs were acting with impunity as they schemed to undermine Raila’s authority in the party and as a PM "because they seem to get access to the President at will".
Magerer said the National Accord, which the two principals signed, was clear that they should each respect the other’s party.
A recent meeting between President Kibaki and some Rift Valley MPs this week at Harambee House incensed Magerer, one of the strongest defenders of the PM who has come under siege from Rift Valley MPs over his stand.
It emerged that the MPs led by Ruto prevailed upon President Kibaki to replace William Kirwa as a nominee to the office of Director of Budget.
Even though the Rift Valley leaders met the President, no official statement was issued on what was deliberated upon, but Ruto’s supporters have been demanding that Kirwa, one of his long time political opponents in Eldoret North Constituency, be replaced.
On controversy surrounding the visit by a section of Westen MPs to the President’s Harambee House office, Shinyalu MP Justus Kizito and his Vihiga counterpart Yusuf Chanzu have said ODM legislators were not invited for the meeting.
"We could not attend because the meeting was not well planned," said Chanzu.
They accused their PNU counterparts led by Cabinet ministers Noah Wekesa and Soita Shitanda of planning the meeting without consulting Mudavadi, the senior most political leader in the province.
The MPs further claimed Wekesa (Forestry) planned the meeting with the intention of pushing Kibaki to reinstate Sirisia MP Moses Wetang’ula as Foreign Affairs minister.
Mr Wetang’ula was forced to step aside late last year over the scandal surrounding Kenyan embassy land in foreign capitals.
Notion dismissed
Mr Chanzu said ODM MPs from the province are against secret talks over national matters, adding that the PNU team blundered by ignoring ODM.
"We are the majority in the province and PNU MPs should work closely with us," said Kizito.
Apart from Wekesa and Shitanda, those who attended the meeting included Nominated MP and Ford-Kenya chairman Musikari Kombo, Assistant Lands Minister Bifwoli Wakoli, Wetang’ula and Wilbur Ottichilo (Emuhaya).
Kizito said Kibaki should have consulted Raila over such meetings. "We need to work as a team so that we debate matters in Parliament in a united manner," added Kizito.
On the latest push by the pro-Ruto MPs to have the PM stripped of his responsibilities, Magerer dismissed the idea terming it wishful thinking.
He said the PM got his role following the situation that was prevailing in the country then, and as a leader of the leading party against President Kibaki’s PNU.
"Raila got votes from Kenyans and became second in the controversial results released by the defunct ECK. There is no way those circumstances can be overlooked now," said Magerer.
Senior counsel Paul Muite has also dismissed the notion that any MP from ODM could easily replace Raila as a PM.
Muite said that could only happen if ODM as a party decides to replace their leader through laid down party procedures.