Raila, Ruto rivalry narrows down to Rift
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Updated 7 hrs 54 mins ago
By
Beautah Omanga and Vitalis Kimutai
The vote-rich Rift Valley Province is narrowing down to be the
melting ground for the rivalry between two former allies — Prime Minister Raila
Odinga and Eldoret North MP William Ruto.
Mr Ruto, who delivered a substantial number of votes from the
region to Raila in 2007 elections, and Raila who this week got a boost through
the support of Roads minister Franklin Bett and Tinderet MP and ODM chairman
Henry Kosgey, have given the region special attention.
While Ruto wound up his weeklong tour of the
Rift Valley on Tuesday, Raila goes back to the region this weekend. The PM’s
campaign team said the programme for the Rift Valley tour would be released on Wednesday.
Raila is seeking to prove he still has a
foothold in the region, while Ruto is out to prove he is the one calling the
shots.
Raila spent last weekend at a retreat in Kajiado
with his presidential election secretariat and members of the ‘ODM Reloaded’
team where they drew up a campaign roadmap.
Ruto pitched camp in Rift Valley since last
week, focusing on five counties as he sought to consolidate support in his
backyard. This came after Kosgey and Bett appeared to give credence to claims
Ruto has not locked out the PM from the region.
Ruto led a group of MPs allied to his United
Republican Party in touring Rift Valley, using two helicopters. The declaration
at every point was that they were united and claims of planned defections by
some of the MPs were the creation of URP detractors.
The Ruto team addressed rallies in Pokot,
Keiyo-Marakwet, Kericho, Baringo, Bomet, Nandi, and Uasin Gishu counties. He
also met leaders in several divisional headquarters.
In URP, Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto, Luka Kigen (Rongai),
Charles Keter (Belgut), Moses Lessonet (Eldama Ravine), Sammy Mwaita (Baringo
Central), and Zakayo Cheruiyot (Kuresoi), have denied they were considering
leaving the party.
The party leadership has also clarified that no
one would benefit from direct nominations, as the process has to be open,
inclusive, and competitive.
Ruto and URP Chairman Francis ole Kaparo said
all aspirants for the various elective positions would have to face free and
fair nominations.
“Those who want direct nominations will
have to look elsewhere. URP is a party that will take everyone on board. Its
leadership believes in a free and fair nominations,” Kaparo said.
Ruto promised the officials who will preside
over the nominations would be picked and agreed on by all the aspirants.
MPs Isaac Ruto and Keter said the perceived
fight between them did not exist as they were from different counties and as
such were not contesting for common positions.
“I have no issue with Keter since he comes from
Kericho County. I am from Bomet County. We are both interested in popularising
the party,” Isaac Ruto said.
He argued that the most important thing for the
party was to have a free and fair grassroots elections next month and
democratic nominations process ahead of the General Election.
Keter said: “Isaac and I have been working to
ensure the party gets support. Those claiming there is a rift between us do not
understand what is happening.”
During the PM’s meeting in Kajiado, the issue of
a running mate was discussed at length following the defection of Deputy Prime
Minister Musalia Mudavadi from ODM.
Mudavadi, who has moved to UDF, would have been
Raila’s running mate. But the two are now expected to face- off at the
election. “We discussed all issues, all possible options of running mate from
the weakest to the one we believe is the most formidable,” a source at the
party who attended the meeting told The Standard.
The strengths and weaknesses of other
presidential aspirants and campaign fundraising were also discussed.
“The ODM Reloaded team was also mandated
to organise rallies in the Rift Valley, which kicks off this the weekend,” an
MP, who attended the retreat, said.
Raila is on Wednesday expected to launch his
presidential secretariat during a dinner for “special supporters” at The
Intercontinental Hotel, as he seeks to implement resolutions of the retreat.
But even as the PM weighs his options and seeks
to turn the tide in Rift Valley, he is still faced with the option of
containing Kosgey and Bett. Both have declared interest in being his running
mate.
Kosgey and Bett have also engaged in public
spats, as they try to seek support from ODM supporters. MPs from the
South Rift including Assistant ministers Langat Magerer, Beatrice Kones
(Bomet), and Joyce Laboso (Sotik) are among those who have supported Bett.
“We are rooting for Bett to be picked as Raila’s
running mate as he has the qualities required, coupled with the fact that the
South Rift has the numbers to deliver a swing vote,” Magerer said.
The tussle between the two has added fire to the
rivalry between South and North Rift. Bett comes from the
Kipsigis-dominated South, and Kosgey, the Nandi enclave of North Rift.
Magerer confirmed reports that chances were high
some of the leaders still with Raila and Ruto may still choose to run on UDM
ticket.
“It is true there is a lot of discomfort
among the Kipsigis that they have not been rewarded. We are now almost decided
to move on our own,” said the Kipkelion MP.
He said the talks were being held in secrecy
with strategies being laid on how to fundraise, market the party, and then if
need be, start talks with other groups.
“I have never undermined Kosgey whom I respect
as my chairman. But it surprises me to hear him dismissing my desire to be
Raila’s running mate. We have been dominated by our brothers from the North
Rift for far too long and we had our space in ODM, which are in,’’ said Bett.
Bett announced at the weekend that he would be
making a political statement in September. He termed as ridiculous accusations
against him by Kosgey over the weekend that he was scheming to split the Kalenjin.
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