Monday, November 5, 2012

Ruto rules out alliance with Raila


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URP Presidential Aspirant William Ruto addresses a rally in Tinderet, Nandi County on November 4,2012 . Photo | MARTIN TELEWA |
URP Presidential Aspirant William Ruto addresses a rally in Tinderet, Nandi County on November 4,2012 . Photo | MARTIN TELEWA |  NATION MEDIA GROUP
By NATION TEAM newsdesk@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Monday, November 5  2012 at  00:38
IN SUMMARY
  • Mr Ruto announced he was ending talks with Prime Minister Raila Odinga, whom he accused of causing the displacement of thousands of Kalenjins from Mau Forest.
  • Mr Ruto and Mr Odinga met last month and discussed the possibility of a joint ticket. The two were allies in the Orange party before Mr Ruto decamped over the Mau evictions, among other grievances.
  • In a disguised jab at the PM, he claimed some presidential aspirants were travelling around the country “telling stories that could not push forward the national development agenda.”
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Talk of political alliances has dominated rallies as presidential aspirants combed the country for votes.
Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, Cabinet minister Eugene Wamalwa and Eldoret North MP William Ruto confirmed holding separate talks with other aspirants for possible alliances.
But Mr Ruto announced he was ending talks with Prime Minister Raila Odinga, whom he accused of causing the displacement of thousands of Kalenjins from Mau Forest.
“Since independence, Kalenjins have never spent nights in the cold as was the case when they were evicted from Mau Forest where they lived in peace. Their troubles started when the PM and Lands minister James Orengo authorised their eviction,” said Mr Ruto.
Speaking in Nandi, just a day after Mr Odinga toured the area, Mr Ruto said his party, the United Republican Party (URP) and Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta’s The National Alliance (TNA) would win the March 4 election in the first round.
Mr Ruto and Mr Odinga met last month and discussed the possibility of a joint ticket. (READ: Why a Raila Ruto alliance strikes fear) The two were allies in the Orange party before Mr Ruto decamped over the Mau evictions, among other grievances.
Mr Musyoka and Mr Mudavadi, who have been left in an awkward position by the alliance between Mr Ruto and Mr Kenyatta, said they were negotiating with other aspirants but did not reveal details.
Speaking in Nandi Hills, Mr Ruto dismissed Rift Valley leaders opposed to his alliance with Mr Kenyatta as short-sighted and misinformed, adding that the meeting planned for today in Eldoret by Mr Odinga was inconsequential.
In a disguised jab at the PM, he claimed some presidential aspirants were travelling around the country “telling stories that could not push forward the national development agenda.”
Sotik MP Joyce Laboso, who dumped ODM for URP last month, asked Kipkelion MP Magerer Lang’at to decamp to save his seat. Dr Laboso said it was not politically prudent for Mr Lang’at to continue supporting Mr Odinga when his constituents were behind Mr Ruto.
MPs Charles Keter (Belgut) and Zakayo Cheruiyot (Kuresoi) said the party will be in the next government.
Speaking in Kericho accompanied by MPs Isaac Rutto, Jackson Kiptanui, Gideon Konchella, Benjamin Lang’at and Aden Duale, the Eldoret North lawmaker dismissed Mr Mudavadi of the United Democratic Forum (UDF) as a spoiler with little chance of becoming president.
Mr Ruto and Mr Kenyatta are among the four Kenyans facing charges of crimes against humanity over the 2007/08 post-election violence at the International Criminal Court. The High Court is yet to rule on a case challenging their eligibility to contest the election.
Mr Odinga spent the day at his rural home in Bondo, Siaya County. His aides said he did not have any public events lined up.
But his supporters, campaigning under the banner of ODM-Reloaded, were in Baringo County, where they changed tact from holding rallies to county hall type meetings with residents for question and answer sessions.
In Makueni, Mr Mudavadi said he was open to pre-election coalitions ahead of the December 4 deadline.
“I appeal to Kenyans to be very careful with hurriedly put together coalitions. We must have proper policy bringing us together because of the experience we have had.
"We cannot afford to have a government built on shaky grounds,” he said at the African Inland Church, Wote, Makueni, where he was hosted by former Makueni MP Peter Maundu.
Reported by Benjamin Muindi, Philip Bwayo, Wycliff Kipsang, Timothy Kemei

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