Thursday, March 3, 2011

WikiLeaks: Kalonzo wanted Kibaki out of 2007 poll race

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka addresses a rally at Kitui stadium during the 2007 campaigns. Diplomatic cables have claimed that he sought the US to prevail upon President Kibaki not to run for a second term on health grounds March 3, 2011. FILE
Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka addresses a rally at Kitui stadium during the 2007 campaigns. Diplomatic cables have claimed that he sought the US to prevail upon President Kibaki not to run for a second term on health grounds March 3, 2011. FILE 
By ANTHONY KARIUKIPosted Thursday, March 3 2011 at 10:39

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka sought the US to prevail upon President Kibaki not to run for a second term on health grounds.
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In a cable, Mr Musyoka, then the ODM-K presidential candidate told ambassador Michael Ranneberger of his reservations about the President's health and "and the negative impact on the electoral process should Kibaki experience a health crisis before the elections".
"Musyoka seriously suggested that President Bush should call Kibaki to urge him to step aside," reads the cable sent by Mr Ranneberger to his superiors in Washington.
Mr Musyoka strategy of "hail mary pass" according to the US envoy would see him receive support from President Kibaki's followers in the event the latter dropped out of the race. He was locked in a three-horse race for the 2007 presidential poll against President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
But in a rejoinder, the VP dismissed Mr Ranneberger's assertions as "rumours" and "wild allegations".
"It is unfortunate that Amb. Ranneberger contrary to his mission as his country's representative, has wasted his time in our beautiful country collecting rumours and passing them off as substantive diplomatic intelligence," said a statement from his office.
"The latest wikiLeaks making wild allegations on the person of the Vice President Dr Kalonzo Musyoka should be treated with the contempt they deserve as the product of a very creative mind, whose purpose is to drive a wedge between the President and his Deputy."
The cable says the ODM-K aspirant "offered nothing concrete, instead focusing on a litany of complaints about Kibaki and the other main presidential aspirant, Raila Odinga (ODM)".
He claimed that should Mr Odinga be elected he would become "another Chavez" due to his socialist roots drawn from his study days in Eastern Germany. He was referring to Venezualan leader Hugo Chavez, who is focusing on implementing socialist reforms in his country.
Mr Musyoka also believed that an Odinga presidency would be a "revolution" in that it would lead to accelerated reforms including action against corruption and improved standards of living.
In the November 2007 conversation, he also shared with the US envoy that he believed that Kenya would be better with President Kibaki at the helm rather than Mr Odinga
The cable says Mr Musyoka saw himself as a "spoiler/kingmaker". He broke away from ODM to form the splinter ODM-K and having broken ranks with Mr Odinga, he saw "no possibility of working with him".
Mr Musyoka told Mr Ranneberger that he would focus on beating Mr Odinga in the Rift Valley on the assumption that ties between the Kalenjin and Kamba will see him carry the day. Former President Moi's armed forces chief of staff, a Kamba, was instrumental in helping Moi, a Kalenjin, put down the 1982 attempted coup which Odinga reportedly supported, the cable says.
In his kingmaker role, Mr Musyoka was convinced that Kibaki would be forced to form a coalition, which he was ready to join.
"Kibaki will need to form a coalition government if he is elected, and I am ready to participate," he said.
He said he could not countenance switching his support to President Kibaki before the 2007 polls, since it would amount to "political suicide".
However, when pressed by Mr Ranneberger Mr Musyoka said he would contemplate joining President Kibaki if he were offered the Vice President post.
The cable says that the discussion led to Mr Musyoka outlining his long term political strategy.
"The bottom line is that Musyoka realises he has no chance to win the election this round and sees his campaign as a prelude to running again for president in 2012 -- but at that time with support of the dominant Kikuyu community," according to the cable.
He claimed that Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta, seen as Kibaki's heir apparent, had "tentatively agreed to run as Vice President on a 2012 Musyoka ticket".

"Obtaining this sort of Kikuyu support for 2012 would require Musyoka to be supportive of Kibaki now - switching support before the election, or tilting the balance in a coalition government following the elections," the cable says.

His position, according to the cable, was based on the notion that Kenyans would be reluctant to elect another Kikuyu in the post -Kibaki elections and it would necessitate Mr Kenyatta to bide his time, while serving as Mr Musyoka's principal assistant.
Mr Musyoka has been associated with a mooted alliance bringing together the Kikuyu, Kalenjin and Kikuyu communities that will be used as campaign vehicle in the 2012 elections.
The KKK alliance brings together Mr Musyoka, Mr Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP Willliam Ruto.
However, the alliance has been dismissed as "retrogressive" and "selfish" by various leaders among them Mr Odinga and Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua.
The cable unflatteringly refers to Mr Musyoka as "opportunist interested primarily in advancing his political ambitions" despite projecting himself as a born again Christian.
"Musyoka served under Moi and Kibaki in ministerial positions. The traditionally close Kikuyu-Kamba relationship and his antipathy towards Odinga make almost inevitable some sort of accommodation with the Kibaki camp," the cable states.
"Though Musyoka is polished and glib, some astute observers consider him an intellectual lightweight. Thus far he has not presented
a credible national political agenda."

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