FAITH: Kalonzo Musyoka during a prayer service at ADC church Boyani in Vihiga at the weekend. Photos by Samuel Simiti
VICE President Kalonzo Musyoka has now dismissed the G-7 alliance as non-existent, even as Eldoret North MP William Ruto insisted the group would form the next government. Kalonzo, who is associated with the group that brings together Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Eldoret North MP William Ruto and Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa said he was against the idea of individuals coming together on tribal lines. “There is nothing like G-7 alliance. I prefer parties uniting for a common cause and not individuals coming together because that will tribalise the country,” said Kalonzo when asked whether he will go it alone on his ODM-K or hoped the G-7 alliance would settle on him.
Ruto plans to contest the presidency under UDM and is engaged in a legal tussle with retired Gen John Koech for the control of the party. Kalonzo is the party leader of ODM-K. Uhuru is chairman of Kanu while Eugene is leader of New Ford Kenya. Kalonzo said that unity of political parties was a viable avenue as seen through the coalition government which he said had performed well.
The G7 alliance members want one of their own to succeed President Kibaki in 2012. Ruto has for a year been suspended from the Cabinet but on Wednesday he was dropped altogether. Ruto has repeatedly said the G7 alliance would support one of its members to face Prime Minister Raila Odinga in the race for State House.
Speaking in Mathira yesterday, Ruto expressed confidence the G7 Alliance will form the next government after the 2012 general election. He was at Tumutumu PCEA fundraising accompanied by Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi, Igembe North MP Ntoitha M’Mithiaru and area MP Ephraim Maina.
Ruto said he had joined hands with Kalonzo, Internal Security minister George Saitoti, Eugene Wamalwa and Uhuru Kenyatta to deny Raila Odinga a chance to become president. “The G7 Alliance is ready to form the next government. This formula is unbeatable. The group will take this country very far. It will transform this country,” said Ruto. The G7 administration would perform in service delivery and not be a government of rhetoric and scapegoats, Ruto said. Kalonzo spoke during his tour of Western region. He was at the Church of God retreat in Kima, Vihiga County at the weekend. He had earlier closed a week-long conference for women from East Africa at Boyani African Divine Church (ADC) headquarters in Vihiga.
Kalonzo's comments could be a pointer that he has finally broken ranks with his G7 partners and decided to go it along next year. Kalonzo declared the 2012 presidential race would most likely pit him against Raila and said he is confident he will win. “I plunged into the presidential race in 2007 and lost to President Kibaki. I am seeing a possible repeat of the 2007 scenario between Tinga (Raila) and I and I am asking the church to pray for us so that there are peaceful elections,” the VP said. “We were together in 2005 when we defeated the proposed constitution and formed ODM. We parted ways and were on the opposing sides in 2007 elections that led to bloodshed and we don’t want a repeat of the same next year,” said Kalonzo.
Kalonzo's remarks came barely two days after Raila declared in Busia County that none of the G-7 alliance partners could beat him in 2012. Kenya needs to elect a God-fearing president, Kalonzo told the two congregations, adding, “You can count a friend in me and you will not regret.” Speaking in Kitale at the weekend, five ODM leaders unleashed a tirade on G7, especially targeting Eugene.
The ODM members dismissed G7 as a movement that has no agenda but to block Raila from taking over the presidency. Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi and MPs Sospeter Ojaamong, Rachel Shebesh, Ababu Namwamba and Bishop Margaret Wanjiru asked Kenyans to vote for Raila. They said the G7 has no manifesto and its members been insulting Raila without genuine reasons.
Mudavadi said, ”At first our brother Eugene was told he would be endorsed as the flag bearer of the Alliance, but now they have decided that they will go for nominations, really, if nominations are done today, can Eugene succeed?"
Ababu asked the ODM rebels to explain what wrong Raila has done for them to crisscross the country pointing an accusing finger at him. “You (Joshua) Kuttuny today you are here, let me ask you what Raila Odinga has done," said Namwamba after Bishop Wanjiru snatched the microphone from the Cherangany MP when adversely mentioned Raila. “The only hero who can transform this country is Raila Odinga,” added Namwamba.
Nominated MP Rachel Shebesh asked youthful politicians to practise respectful politics. Ojaamong said, “Most of the members of the G7 are among the YK92 who played a big role in killing the economy of this country. Some of them were my classmates and they are billionaires today when we are not, they must tell Kenyans where they got their wealth.” Wanjiru said MPs who were elected through ODM ticket in 2007 and now they are against Raila are hypocrites who Kenyans should not believe. The ODM leaders were addressing hundreds of their supporters at Kitale’s Kenyatta Stadium and in Cherangany where Raila was the guest on the first anniversary of the new constitution.
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