Uhuru, Ruto allies hit out at UK minister

By STEVE MKAWALE, PAUL GITAU and JOSEPH MASHA

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto’s allies have accused UK Foreign Secretary William Hague of meddling in local politics.

On Saturday, MPs allied to the G7 took issue with Mr Hague’s caution that Kenyans must mind the country’s international image in deciding Uhuru and Ruto’s eligibility for the presidency in the forthcoming General Election.

They claimed his statement confirmed suspicions the International Criminal Court (ICC) cases against the two were part of a foreign scheme to influence the outcome of elections for the country’s fourth President.

And addressing a rally at Malindi Stadium, Mr Uhuru said Kenya is an independent State and that no foreign country has any moral authority to dictate to Kenyans the leaders they should elect.

From left, Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto during a prayer meeting at Malindi Stadium, on Saturday. [PHOTO: MAARUFU MOHAMED/STANDARD]

The G7 leaders told Kenyans to be cautious of foreign emissaries who want to dictate the country’s political arena and impose the next president.

"We know they are spending a lot of money through NGOs and civil organisations to confuse Kenyans so that at the end they can impose a leader of their choice," Uhuru said.

The leaders used the forum to assure Kenyans they are united and vowed to work together and win the coming General Election.

Uhuru, who was accompanied by about 40 MPs, dismissed claims he was the root cause of the chaos which rocked the country after the disputed presidential election results in 2007.

"The chaos which erupted in this country following the disputed presidential election results in the past General Election were not caused by me but some certain leaders who are not mentioned today," Uhuru said.

Uhuru said the truth about the case facing him at the ICC would soon be known as he was innocent.

Wider scheme

Ruto asked Kenyans to pray for the four suspects of the post-election violence so that justice can be done.

He said Kenya needs visionary leaders who can reform the country’s governing system and not leaders who are out to meet their self-interests.

Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa criticised Immigration Minister Otieno Kajwang’ for introducing a Sh300 fee for Kenyans seeking to get IDs.

Transport Minister Chirau Mwakwere said the next president would come from G7.

Earlier, about 24 MPs addressed a press conference at Wilson Airport where they vilified the UK minister and amplified claims foreign Governments were plotting to influence the polls.

Uhuru and Ruto – who are pushing to contest the presidency regardless of ICC indictments – joined the MPs after the press conference and boarded a chartered flight to the coastal city for the third in a series of scheduled political rallies.

The MPs led by Mwakwere and Ms Shaban described Hague’s remarks as patronising, imperialistic and in blatant disregard of the basic tenets of the rule of law.

"Mr Hague’s calculated remarks did not come as a surprise. His statement and demeanor now confirm our long held suspicion that the charges against the four at the ICC are being used for strategic foreign interests and forms part of a wider scheme to unconstitutionally dictate the leadership of the country and subvert the political rights of the people of Kenya," said the statement.

Mwakwere said the utterances disregarded a court order that barred public discussions on the matter and claimed they were calculated to influence the court’s decision.

The top UK diplomat made the remarks on Friday during a question and answer session with journalists at Ole Sereni Hotel in Nairobi on conclusion of his tour of Kenya and Somalia.

On Saturday, the MPs urged Kenyans to remain calm and vigilant against what they described as attempts by foreigners to interfere with the electoral process.