Sunday, June 10, 2012

Kosgey returns to affirm his place in ODM


BY VINCENT BARTOO

Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey’s insistence that he wants to be Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s running mate has introduced an interesting twist to ODM politics.
In uncharacteristic fashion, Mr Kosgey broke his long silence and demanded the position.
“People say that I have been quiet lately. I have now decided I am no longer going to keep quiet. I have come out,” he said.
The MP asked Rift Valley residents to support ODM saying through him, they had a huge stake in the party.  “If we win, then you would also have won. I have never misled you. Trust me, you are safe in ODM. Please stick there,” he said.
Without elaborating, he pointed to a Machakos meeting that gave birth to ODM saying those who attended it know who the party belongs to.
Sources within Kosgey’s inner- circle revealed to The Standard On Sunday that the MP gave out a considerable amount of money to buy out ODM in its formative days.
“You remember all of us were in ODM-Kenya then, and there was a falling out with Kalonzo Musyoka. We chose to leave him with the party and go for ODM,” said the ally who requested not to be named.
But the Raila-led group encountered an obstacle after it emerged that an individual from central Kenya had registered ODM in his name. “So we had to buy the party from him and at that time people were broke. We were in the opposition then. Henry volunteered to buy the party on behalf of the Raila group,” he disclosed.
Last Sunday during a fundraiser in Eldoret South, Kosgey told locals he was in ODM by virtue of the fact that the party belonged to him.
“Or you don’t know? Most of you may not know this but ask anyone who was in Machakos as we formed it. This party is mine. That is why I am firmly in it, or who do you want me to leave it to?” he posed.
Since his indictment at the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the 2007/2008 post-election violence, Kosgey had taken a low profile.
Even after he was cleared of the charges, he did not come out to express his relief of being off the hook like his counterpart, former Police Commissioner Hussein Ali.
Out of the six suspects, Kosgey and Ali were cleared of the charges of crimes against humanity.
But the Tinderet MP’s re-emergence to pick the ODM certificate at the Registrar of Political Parties following compliance to the Political Parties Act raised eyebrows.
Join forces
There was speculation that his decision to stick to ODM was as a result of Raila’s hand in his acquittal before the ICC. It, however, now emerges that Kosgey is claiming his place in ODM, lest he is sidelined in the PM’s quest to ascend to power with somebody else as running mate.
This now puts Raila in a catch 22 situation, given that Rift Valley, where the MP hails from may prove a hard nut to crack in his efforts to garner the much-needed votes.
This is because Eldoret North MP William Ruto and his United Republican Party (URP) has done considerable damage to ODM in the region.
Majority of MPs from the region ditched ODM with Ruto and their supporters followed suit.
The choice of running mate is viewed by many as the PM’s make or break decision in his quest to become Kenya’s fourth President.
There are those who think by choosing Kosgey, Raila may not garner the necessary votes in the region.
He may also risk losing other regions like central Kenya, particularly the Meru region, Coast and North Eastern, whose voters he has lately been charming.
But political analysts in the region like Philip Chebunet, a lecturer at Narok University College, said if Raila picks Kosgey, it might be a game changer in the Rift Valley.
“Going by the ruckus in the G7 and the unclear direction that Ruto is leading the community, the hopes of winning Rift Valley votes may eventually lie in Kosgey,” he said.
Chebunet added that Kosgey’s intention to become Raila’s running mate should not be taken lightly by ODM. “His slow and sure attitude to politics makes him a reliable politician in the Rift Valley and nationally,” he said.
He said Ruto should see the writing on the wall over his treatment by Central Kenya politicians and join hands with Kosgey to ensure the Kalenjin gain better bargaining power. He cited Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta’s launch of his presidential campaigns as a pointer that Ruto risked being sidelined by Central Kenya.
“It is easier to get power through Western Kenya than central Kenya. They need to join forces and help the community have a stronger bargaining power,” he added.
Political observer, Kipkorir Birgen, said Kosgey and Ruto are two key politicians the Kalenjin community is relying on in its hopes to be in the next government.
Emissary sent
“Both of them hold the future of the Kalenjin in their hands and how they play their cards will determine the community’s political destiny,” he said. On Kosgey, Birgen said the Tinderet MP may prove an asset as Raila’s running mate should Ruto not be on the ballot.
“If Ruto’s name misses on the ballot in the first round and also in the run-off should it occur, then Kosgey will carry the hopes of the Kalenjin and he will deliver all votes to ODM,” he said. It is not however, clear whether Ruto will still be in the presidential race owing to the scheduled start of his case at the ICC.
During the Eldoret meeting, Kosgey declared he would from now on play an active role in the campaigns to succeed President Kibaki after he was cleared by the ICC.
Separate sources within ODM intimated to The Standard On Sunday that key party leaders do not have a problem with Kosgey being Raila’s running mate.
But others said Kosgey’s sudden clamour to be the PM’s running mate could have been informed by options the party is toying with to make a formidable force in the forthcoming General Election.
“Ruto is one option. There are those who feel the Eldoret North MP should be wooed back to ODM even if through a coalition with URP,” said a source who also declined to be named.
He added that an emissary had been sent to meet Ruto over the deal, later discussed by him and the PM although the two have since denied ever meeting.  “Kosgey wants to claim his territory in the event that Ruto comes back to ODM. I foresee a supremacy battle between the two (Ruto and Kosgey) if that happens,” said our source.

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