Uhuru, Ruto dismiss talk of compromise candidate

Moses Njagih

The leading luminaries under the G7 Alliance enhanced their campaigns, even as pressure mounted on them to ensure they remain united until the General Elections.

At a well attended rally in Machakos on Sunday, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto — both of whom are facing charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands — dismissed talk that they were looking for a compromise presidential candidate should the court process bar them from contesting the polls.

The two, who are also eyeing the presidency, termed as prophets of doom, those claiming that they were considering a substitute candidate to front if they do not have their names in the presidential ballot papers.

"We are not looking for any compromise candidate and we know who are behind these campaigns, which are being propagated through the media. These are prophets of doom and we want to tell them that they will wait to see their prophecy fail," said Ruto.

The two leaders claimed that there was a campaign against them from leaders who want to capitalise on the ills facing them, especially their case at The Hague.

Uhuru said people who feel threatened by their joint campaigns are spearheading the misinformation.

"These are people wishing ill of us, but they will have to painfully take it since we will remain united and pursue our agenda of forming the next government. We will not be deterred by their talk," said Uhuru.

Ruto said it was unfortunate that their competitors wanted to capitalize on the misfortunes facing them in their campaigns for the presidency, but vowed to remain unmoved by these campaigns.

But it was the call on the aspirants to remain united and present a single presidential candidate at the elections that dominated talk at the rally cum prayer meeting held at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos, where the G7 leaders were hosted by Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka.

The leaders mobilised more than 30 MPs who told the members of the alliance that they should forget the presidency if they do not unite under one candidate.

Assistant Ministers Cecily Mbarire and Mwangi Kiunjuri warned that any fallout would result in them ending in the opposition.

"If we do not head in the same direction, we will all end up in the wilderness. We must remain under one roof," said Mbarire.

Joint nomination

Kiunjuri added: "We could be celebrating to see huge clouds and assume that we will have the rain, but we know even the clouds are at times scattered by the winds when everyone is sure of a downpour. We must not allow this cloud to scattered.

It was a call that was repeated by the MPs who spoke, with Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi and Kangundo MP Johnstone Muthama rooting for PNU Alliance as the party through which all the candidates should seek a joint nomination.

Nairobi Metropolitan Minister Njeru Githae said the leaders must embrace all measures to ensure they present a single candidate to Kenyans. "Even if it means locking you in one room and only open for you when you tell us that you have agreed who that candidate would be, we will do that," said Githae.

Uhuru, Ruto and Kalonzo said that they intend to remain united and face the elections as a team with one presidential candidate.

Ruto said the leaders under G7 had agreed to sacrifice their individual ambitions in the bid to come up with a single candidate.

"We have agreed to walk together and form the next Government. We are focused and we will not allow our individual interest to ruin the interest of the majority Kenyans," said Ruto

He added: "We are a team and we believe that when one of us gets, whoever it is, we will have as well got.

The leaders said that they had a common agenda of forming a government that is keen to address the challenges facing Kenyans, hence their forming of the alliance.

"The contest in the next elections will be centred on ideas, programmes and policies, not rhetoric," said Ruto.

Uhuru said as sovereign people, Kenyans should be allowed to exercise their democracy by electing the leaders of their choice, without external influences.

"Kenyans know the kind of a leader they want and we will respect their will at the ballot. Those saying that there is a particular leader that should be elected should know that this is a decision that will be made by Kenyans," he said.

The Gatundu South MP urged the G7 supporters not to get worried whenever they see them competing for the presidency, saying ultimately, they will support one candidate.

"We have agreed to go to Kenyans individually but ultimately we will have one candidate. Our agreement is that whoever will succeed that will be our candidate," Uhuru said

Kalonzo said the Cabinet had agreed to hold elections this year and they were prepared to form the next Government.

"I have been presented as a weak candidate and an indecisive leader but I’m up to the challenge of leading this country," said Kalonzo

— Additional reporting by Daniel Nzia