KALONZO PLOTS G7 PULLOUT

Wednesday, 11 May 2011 00:04 BY STAR TEAM

ELBOW-TO-ELBOW: William Ruto, Uhuru Kenyatta and VP Kalonzo Musyoka

VICE President Kalonzo Musyoka is reportedly working on a new alliance and preparing to ditch the PNU Alliance where has been marginalised.
Sources close to the Vice President told the Star that Kalonzo has quietly been reaching out to PNU chairman George Saitoti and Trade minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere among others to form his own alliance to sponsor him in the 2012 presidential race.
Kalonzo is no longer confident that he will be the presidential candidate in the PNU alliance headed by himself, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto. “It is very clear that Uhuru and Ruto don’t want him so he has quietly been reaching out to some PNU leaders who are also unhappy with the Uhuru-Ruto axis,” said an ODM-K MP close to Kalonzo. The growing popularity of Uhuru in recent weeks has seen Kalonzo play a secondary role whenever they share a public podium.
Kalonzo has been holding frequent meetings at his Karen home with friendly MPs friendly who have been advising him on the Kibaki succession  strategies he needs to adopt.
The VP has been trailing Uhuru by a few points in the opinion polls but both still are a long way behind Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Kalonzo's decision to shop for a new alliance comes as more and more MPs within the PNU alliance have been determinedly pushing Uhuru to succeed Kibaki.
A plan by some PNU leaders to have Uhuru, Kalonzo and Internal Security minister Saitoti compete to become the PNU presidential candidate has also worried Kalonzo.
Last weekend Uhuru said there should be presidential primaries to choose a single candidate for the PNU alliance. “If we say let us all join one party, please let us do so that we can compete and we all support whoever wins the presidential ticket,” said Uhuru last Sunday at a prayer service in Nyeri town attended by Kalonzo.
 During the function Kalonzo was made to introduce Uhuru yet according to protocol the Deputy Prime Minister should introduce the Vice-President. Rallies attended by both Uhuru and Kalonzo have seen mainly placards and posters in support of Uhuru as the preferred 2012 candidate.
Agriculture assistant minister Kareke Mbiuki yesterday confirmed that things were not looking good for Kalonzo. He said at least 59 MPs out of 70 MPs within the PNU alliance are staunch supporters of an Uhuru candidacy. “Kalonzo has only a few Ukambani MPs. In fact Mutito MP Kiema Kilonzo and Gideon Ndambuki are within the Uhuru camp,” Mbiuki claimed.
Last month, PNU hijacked Yusuf Hassan, the frontrunner in the Kamukunji by-election who was an ODM-K candidate, and turned him into the alliance candidate. That was a sign that the PNU wanted Kalonzo's ODM-K to be wound up.
Prior to the Ocampo Six appearing at the Hague in April, Kalonzo skipped seven out of the nine rallies held by Uhuru and Ruto to mobilise support against the ICC. Saitoti is also believed to be uncomfortable with the Uhuru-Ruto deal.
Saitoti served President Daniel Moi for more than 10 years as Vice President but quit Kanu together with Prime Minister Raila Odinga in 2002 after Moi  picked Uhuru as Kanu’s presidential candidate without giving his rivals a chance. “Since then the man believed that Uhuru will never allow him to be candidate so he too is looking for a plan B,” said an aide to Saitoti.
Mwakwere on his part is said to be unhappy with the prominent role Uhuru and Ruto have given to his rival Tourism minister Najib Balala in the G7.
Kalonzo is also reported to have reached out to Cabinet ministers Yusuf Haji and Kiraitu Murungi. “We are staring at something that looks very embarrassing. Chances of another Kikuyu candidature are high,” said another source close to Kalonzo.
Yesterday Limuru MP Peter Mwathi insisted that Uhuru’s presidential bid is still on course. “I can tell you for sure that the strategy we are putting together is one that will see Uhuru win,” he said.
Mwathi however said that there will be an internal PNU Alliance presidential nomination involving Uhuru, Kalonzo and Ruto. “Uhuru has stated that he will not take part in a boardroom nomination,” he said.
Yesterday Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa said he was unaware of Kalonzo’s new alliance, but said there were plans to form another political outfit outside the PNU Alliance to link up all the different parties. “An umbrella political party that will bring our parties together will be formed soon,” Wamalwa revealed.
Government Chief Whip Johnstone Muthama insisted that Kalonzo was staying with PNU Alliance. “Kalonzo and the rest of us will be in PNU Alliance but it must be understood there is no competition between Uhuru and Kalonzo,” Muthama said. “We are discouraging the politics of groupings. I can confirm to you that Uhuru and Kalonzo are one thing,” he said.