Eldoret North MP William Ruto faces internal rebellion after some of his close allies warned him against endorsing candidates for the county governors and senators. On the one hand, both current and former MPs who want to vie for parliamentary seats believe their election will be assured if Ruto sanctions their nomination or at least endorses their candidacy in 2012. Such individuals are jostling for positions within the UDM party which is widely expected to be Ruto's vehicle during the next elections.
On the other hand, there are new political players, some of them very close Ruto friends, angling themselves for his support to unseat the sitting MPs or make their political debut in some of the new constituencies and electoral seats to be established under the devolved system of government. These are the people eyeing county governors, senators or the special seats for women.
Ruto has declined to demands that he endorse or support any of the prospective candidates. “Most of the time he is advising the potential candidates and aspirants to ready themselves for the people's verdict because he does not want to be seen to be forcing leaders on the electorate,” said a close Ruto aide who declined to be identified as he is not authorised to talk to the press. He singled out the battle in Bomet County where Chepalungu MP Isaac Rutto and his Konoin counterpart Dr Julius Kones are both interested in the governor's seat which has caused some tensions between the two.
Belgut MP Charles Keter said Ruto was unlikely to endorse any of the aspirants for the various political posts. "Anyone hoping for a Ruto endorsement should stop daydreaming. Ruto has made it clear that the people will decide the best candidate for whatever position," said Keter, who is a close Ruto ally. Local MPs allied to Ruto were cagey about discussing their future political plans but all confirmed they would run for political office on the UDM ticket. "It is the party of the moment for anyone who wants to run in the region," said Keiyo South MP Jackson Kiptanui. He added the party will have to come up with ways of managing the expected fallout especially when many of the aspirants fail to get the party's nomination.
Marakwet East MP Linah Kilimo, a long-time supporter of Ruto, is said to be reluctant to quit her Kenda Party for UDM because she would now be subjected to the nominations process. UDM Secretary–General Martin ole Kamwaro has denied reports that he has been made uncomfortable by the entry of former National Assembly Speaker Francis ole Kaparo into the UDM party hierarchy even though he holds no elective office. Kaparo has been accompanying Ruto in his various rallies around the country. In Uasin Gishu county, the fight for supremacy has been going on quietly. For example, Isaac Maiyo who chairs the Eldoret North CDF Committee is expected to fight the Wareng County Council chairman Paul Kiprop for nomination in the race for governor.
More than ten other close aides and allies of Ruto are also planning to run for the Soy parliamentary seat which is a new constituency to be carved out of Eldoret North. They include Caleb Kositany who is one of the strategists in the Ruto team and Sammy Muten who is expected to make his political debut next year.
Tinderet MP Henry Kogey joining the Ruto camp threw into disarray some of the Ruto allies in Nandi County who were interested in running for senator. Most of them abandoned their plans assuming Kosgey will automatically get the UDM party nomination. Other MPs in the area including David Koech of Mosop and Elijah Lagat of Emgwen will be fighting for re-election and there are new entrants and former MPs lining up to dislodge them.
In Elgeyo Marakwet county Ruto has persuaded the MPs not to run for the same seats to avoid conflicts. Boaz Kaino of Marakwet West will therefore be gunning for senator while Linah Kilimo hopes to be be nominated to the special county seat for women or face the challenge posed by new entrants if she opts to defend her seat. In Trans Nzoia county, Joshua Kuttuny hopes to defend his seat against the likes of former Kenya Seed Company managing director Nathaniel Tum. In Kericho, Belgut MP Charles Keter who is leading Ruto’s team in the South Rift region has not clearly indicated the seat he will go for. “I will go for the best seat when that time comes,” said Keter.
He will have to contend with a retinue of new entrants who are interested in both senator and governor seats. Keter definitely has Ruto’s backing for whichever seat he will go for and this has forced the other aspirants to remain uncertain in the grassroots campaigns which most of them are carrying out ahead of the 2012 polls. Many of the MPs and other aspirants are planning to run for positions in UDM once the party clears disputes over its leadership. Those who get the party nominations will have an advantage come the election time.
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