Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka congratulates Dr Angela Kilonzo and captain Kariuki Karanja, during their wedding reception at Ngong Racecourse Nairobi November 24, 2012. VPPS
By LUCAS BARASA lbarassa@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Saturday, November 24 2012 at 22:00
Posted Saturday, November 24 2012 at 22:00
IN SUMMARY
- Kalonzo insists that his name will be on the ballot paper as a presidential candidate
The scramble to have Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka in the camps of leading presidential aspirants has reached fever pitch and left in its wake cracks and deep-seated suspicions in the VP’s inner sanctum.
But even as the VP continues to hold talks with other leaders on the possibility of forming a pre-election coalition, he has insisted that his name will be on the ballot as a presidential candidate.
On Friday, Mr Musyoka met Kamba elders and some MPs from Lower Eastern at his official residence that was recently opened by President Kibaki in Karen to help chart the way forward.
Sources who attended the meeting said the real burden of choice in Mr Musyoka’s presidential bid emerged.
Speaking to the Sunday Nation on the phone from Kitui, Wiper acting chairman David Musila said no deal had been reached between Mr Musyoka and Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi as reported in the media.
“The so-called deal is not yet there but we are talking with Musalia and other parties,” Mr Musila said.
Mr Musila confirmed the Friday meeting at the VP’s residence, saying it was attended by a section of elders and MPs. He said Wiper MPs would meet again Sundday to discuss party matters.
“There’s no dilemma on the partnership the VP should make. When the time comes, an announcement will be made. We are talking to all parties except TNA and URP and, when we reach a common ground, everyone will know,” Mr Musila said.
But other sources said that although Mr Musyoka has announced he had cut links with the G7 Alliance, he is in quiet talks with URP leader William Ruto and TNA’s Uhuru Kenyatta, both of who want him to join their camp.
Mr Musyoka and his supporters have, however, rejected a Majority Leader position offered to him in the alliance. On Friday, the Kamba elders and MPs were categorical the VP should not play second fiddle to Mr Ruto and Mr Kenyatta.
The VP is said to have held more meetings with Mr Ruto than have been reported, all aimed at wooing the Mwingi North MP to the TNA/URP presidential ticket.
The argument in the TNA/URP camp is that the VP would give the ticket the legitimacy it so badly needs to mount a national campaign.
Initially, Mr Musila, a close ally of the VP, was enthusiastic about the alliance but rescinded his decision after learning that Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto wanted Mr Musyoka to go for the Majority Leader seat.
Mr Musyoka’s supporters were also unhappy with Mr Kenyatta for fronting Water minister Charity Ngilu as his preferred link in Ukambani.
According to well placed sources both in the TNA and Wiper campaigns, Ms Ngilu was further encouraged to run for the Kitui Senate seat which Mr Musila had convinced himself that he would win without serious opposition.
Ms Ngilu’s expected entry into the race came with a sweetener; that she would be supported for position of Senate President.
ODM was also keen on wooing Mr Musyoka and, hopefully, the eastern Kenya bloc to its ticket.
By winning Mr Musyoka, the ODM team had hoped to bring on board the voice of reason and humility in leadership that would complement the PM’s rather fast-paced, aggressive approach to leadership.
Mr Odinga has been working with co-government chief whip Johnstone Muthama to try and make inroads in Ukambani and win Mr Musyoka’s support.
On Sunday, Mr Odinga had been expected to attend the launch of Mr Muthama’s race to be Machakos senator in Machakos.
Originally, MPs allied to Mr Mudavadi were expected to attend and test the waters for future joint rallies. But Mr Muthama is said to have invited ODM MPs to the rally, making UDF leaders decide to skip it. The rally was, however, called off.
During the Friday meeting in Karen, it was also noted that the much-talked-about deal between UDF leader Musalia Mudavadi and Mr Musyoka could just be hot air.
“In fact, there is nothing like a joint technical team. The only people who have ever sat from the two sides are Khalwale and Mukhisa from UDF and Musila and Charles Kilonzo from Wiper. The technical team that newspapers have been referring to is UDF’s whose decisions really can’t be binding to Wiper,” the source said.
Mr Musyoka is said to have categorically rejected the UDF offer of a running mate position with his camp insisting that it has 17 MPs in Parliament.
The participants accused some outside forces of pushing for a Musyoka-Musalia ticket and that they were even ready to refund the money the VP had used in the campaigns if he accepted to be the Sabatia MP’s deputy.
Mr Musyoka is said to have categorically rejected the UDF offer with his camp insisting that they have 17 MPs in Parliament on the Wiper ticket; that the VP has wider national and international appeal than Mudavadi and that he has longer experience in politics and government.
One of Mr Musyoka’s political strategists, who sought anonymity, however said negotiations were still on pact with UDF.
“We are trying to figure out how to put it together. We want to have a broad based coalition that meets the wishes of all Kenyans,” he said.
He said discussions on who should be the president and who should be running mate “is not our priority”.
He said Wiper was also in talks with six other key individuals to make the coalition big.
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