ELDORET North MP William Ruto is under pressure from his close supporters to run against Uhuru Kenyatta in the 2012 presidential election.
Ruto’s key advisers are not comfortable with the proposal for him to be the Deputy Prime Minister's running mate. They want him to ask Uhuru to instead back him instead in reciprocation for the Kalenjin support in 2002 when Uhuru ran on the Kanu ticket but lost to President Kibaki.
Ruto's dilemma emerged as Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, who is expected to compete with Uhuru and Prof George Saitoti for the PNU alliance presidential nomination in 2012, called over 2,000 Kamba professionals to come for dinner tonight at his Karen home to discuss his presidential ambitions. Parliament is expected to dissolve in May 2012 to pave the way for presidential elections in August.
Ruto supporters are worried that the Kalenjin vote could potentially be divided if the suspended Higher Education Minister plays second fiddle to Uhuru in 2012. “We have taken a break to deal with some of the emerging issues and scenarios ahead of the 2012 polls. Our advisers are working on finer details which will be discussed before we move on”, said one MP allied to Ruto.
Ruto has deliberately stayed out of the political limelight since he returned from the International Criminal Court in April as he strategises on how to deal with the case.
Ruto has held several strategy meetings at his Karen home to discuss the 2012 elections and has hinted at support for Uhuru saying he will seek to become his running mate. “He told us he knows Uhuru’s backers are greedy but he knows how to deal with them once they get power. He also told us he is unwilling to back Kalonzo Musyoka because of his opportunistic ways," said a former minister who participated in a dinner at Ruto’s home.
Cherenganyi MP Joshua Kutuny insists that Ruto’s presidential ambitions are still alive. “We are still very much on focus. William is active and we are in the race till the end,” Kutuny said without elaborating.
Paul Kiprop, Chairman of the Wareng County Council Chairman and Ruto confidant, said they already have a working formula to beat their rivals. “Ruto and Uhuru are just our leaders. We have leaders and communities from all over Kenya in this group which will actually represent the face of Kenya,” said Kiprop. “The Kalenjin community has fully embraced the team led by Ruto and Uhuru. It’s also acceptable in other areas of the country. Regardless of who will be the presidential candidate, this team will carry the day,” said former Nominated MP Mark Too, a well known political strategist in Rift Valley. Too is among those who have been hosting strategy meetings on how the G7 alliance can move ahead.
Other strategists want Ruto to run alone and only merge with Uhuru after the first round of the presidential elections. Respected local elder Daniel Tabut said the Rift Valley has gifted elites and should front their own candidate if Ruto ducks out. “We are not opposed to Ruto’s candidacy but he may be going wrong. That is why as elders in the region we are pushing for a plan B,” Tabut said.
Managing Director of the Agricultural Development Corporation, William Kirwa, is being groomed by some elders to fill the void if Ruto is not in the race.
Other names being floated include former Baringo Central MP Gideon Moi and Information minister Samwel Poghishio. But Mosop MP David Koech expressed confidence that the alliance being built to oppose Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s third run for the presidency will emerge victorious. “We have made it clear that our path this time is different. We will stand by Ruto and the other leaders in our team until we win the 2012 polls,” Koech said.
Mutito MP Kiema Kilonzo said that Ruto is safer inside an alliance with Uhuru than when he runs alone. “The combination between Uhuru and Ruto is the one that will carry the day.The chemistry between the two is working well, that I can confirm,” he said.
In bid to build on his own strategy, Kalonzo will today meet Kamba professionals from Kitui at his Karen home. “The Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has called for an urgent working dinner for all our county professionals on Monday 23 at his Karen residence starting 6 pm. He requests that you pass this message to others," stated an SMS message over the weekend. Last week Kamba professionals met Water minister Charity Ngilu and Kiema Kilonzo at Kefri hotel.
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