AN imminent leadership vacuum in the Rift Valley has forced key politicians, professionals and elders back to the drawing board as the Kalenjin community prepares for a possible halt to William Ruto's leadership.
Secret meetings have been held between the Nandi and Kipsigis communities in the region to seek tentative leadership alternatives in case Ruto is absent during the 2012 succession presidential elections.
Ruto has risen to become the undisputed leader of the Kalenjin since the retirement of President Moi.The MP for Eldoret North is on the Ocampo Six list summoned to the International Criminal Court at the Hague on April 7 where the judges are due to rule on whether charges of crimes against humanity against them will be confirmed.
Though the Nandi in the north is the most powerful sub-tribe on which the Kalenjin largely depend for leadership, the Kipsigis community in the south commands the largest voting block.
From the outh, those being mentioned by pundits as possible replacements to Ruto are Belgut MP Charles Keter and his Chepalungu counterpart Isaac Rutto. The two are supporters of the suspended minister.
The name of Roads Minister Franklin Bett has also been mentioned. The minister however has an uphill task against the two as he is seen as a rival of the embattled Kalenjin supremo and a supporter of Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
From the north and central Rift, Information Minister Samuel Poghisio, former cabinet minister Kipruto arap Kirwa and former Baringo Central MP Gideon Moi top the list of those being mentioned. “The Kalenjin people are at the crossroads because of what has happened in the Hague issue,” said Anglican Bishop Christopher Ruto.
The bishop said prayers will be intensified for a divine intervention to save Ruto from Luis Moreno-Ocampo's grip. Several secret meetings to discuss how to fill the void if Ruto exits the political scene have been held in Nairobi, Nakuru and Eldoret.
Leading professionals in the region — lawyers, bankers, doctors and lecturers at the universities — have been involved in the scheming but they prefer not to be named at this point.
Yesterday Eldama Ravine MP Moses Lesonet said it was an abomination to try to imagine the jailing of Ruto and his possible absence from the political scene. “Ruto did not ascend to the leadership of the Kalenjin through lobbying, discussions and gossip. It just happened naturally. We want to warn that it is an abomination for anyone to imagine the absence of Ruto from the political scene,” Lesonet said.
Cherengany MP Joshua Kuttuny said MPs supporting Ruto will seek to have the 2012 general election postponed until Ruto’s ICC case is determined. “The ICC cases are meant to eliminate Ruto and Uhuru Kenyatta from the presidential race, so we as there supporters will push for postponement of the 2012 polls if the ICC cases are not completed well before the elections,” Kuttuny declared.
Yesterday, newly elected Kirinyaga Central MP Joseph Gitari expressed similar sentiments when he warned that Parliament may be prolonged for one year if the ICC fails to clear the six by August next year.
The MP said that PNU Alliance and its supporters would not allow the next general election to proceed without Ruto and Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta.
The PNU MP said the House will move a motion to prolong the Parliament until the case is heard and determined by ICC judges. Eldoret South MP Peris Simam said the ICC issue will only serve to strengthen Ruto "because he is innocent and he will eventually be cleared of the accusations against him". “We are confident that Ruto will go The Hague and return. He is our leader and he will be on the ballot paper come next year. Those thinking of eliminating him from 2012 politics are dreaming. It will not work,” said Simam.
Keter, the Belgut MP, is the most trusted supporter of the Eldoret North MP. Keter is also wealthy and has been Ruto’s ally for long.In most public functions attended by the MPs, Keter and Poghisio are always listed to speak just before Ruto indicating they are considered more senior than the rest.
On the other hand the Chepalungu legislator Rutto is known for his tough campaigns for Kipsigis rights. He is vocal in championing Kipsigis and South Rift rights. The Chepalungu MP is vocal in opposing the ICC trials.
Political analyst Kipkorir Birgen says Rutto has an edge in the Kipsigis community over Bett who is close to Raila, not in the good books of the Kalenjin voter.
Bett has announced his willingness to be a running mate to any presidential candidate in the next elections.Kirwa has activated his networks in the region and will be hosting crucial consultation meetings in the next two weeks. “People are already looking at alternatives although it now appears difficult that someone will emerge with the ability to bring together the seven Kalenjin sub-tribes,” said one of the professionals, Engineer Tom Murgor.
He warned the Kalenjin sub-tribes Keiyo, Kipsigis, Marakwet, Tugen and Nandi may disintegrate politically with no clear political leader in the region should Ruto exit.
Poghisio, Gideon and Kirwa as individuals in their own right can marshal the support of the Kalenjin. Kirwa however declined to comment on the matter when The Star reached him.
Last week a group of elders met at businessman Mark Too’s home where they discussed the fate of the community in the case of Ruto’s absence.
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