Top seat aspirants fly to Mara for unity talks

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From left: Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo, Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli, Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi and Trade Minister Moses Wetang' ula at at the Wilson Airport after arrival from the Maasai Mara on October 14, 2012. Photo/DANIEL IRUNGU/  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By PETER LEFTIE pmutibo@ke.nationmedia.com AND OLIVER MATHENGE omathenge@ke.natuionmedia.com
Posted  Sunday, October 14  2012 at  23:30

IN SUMMARY

• Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s overtures to his former ally-turned-rival William Ruto appear to have triggered the alliance talks among the Western leaders.
• The Rift Valley, where Mr Ruto remains the biggest obatacle to Mr Odinga’s plans, is a critical vote basket.
• The National Allaince leader Uhuru Kenyatta has also entered a pre-election deal with the Party of National Unity and others to boost his presidential bid.
• Besides consolidating the Western Province vote, Mr Mudavadi is also reported to have reached out to Mr Ruto’s United Republican Party and Ford People with a view to forging an alliance.

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Presidential aspirants Moses Wetang’ula and Cyrus Jirongo have agreed to work with Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi ahead of the coming elections.

The talks at the Mara Serena Lodge in Narok County and chaired by trade unions boss Francis Atwoli took place away from casual observers.

It was not immediately clear whether “working together” meant that the Trade minister or the Lugari MP will now drop their presidential bids and throw their weight behind Mr Mudavadi.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s overtures to his former ally-turned-rival William Ruto appear to have triggered the alliance talks among the Western leaders. (READ: What Raila offered Ruto)

The Rift Valley, where Mr Ruto remains the biggest obstacle to Mr Odinga’s plans, is a critical vote basket. (READ: Why everyone wants an alliance with Ruto)

The National Allaince leader Uhuru Kenyatta has also entered a pre-election deal with the Party of National Unity and others to boost his presidential bid.

Mr Mudavadi, Mr Jirongo and Mr Wetang’ula flew back to Nairobi’s Wilson Airport on Sunday afternoon but declined to speak to the Nation, instead leaving the task to Mr Atwoli.

The Central Organisation of Trade Unions secretary-general said the they had agreed to work together to consolidate the Western region voting bloc as they seek alliances with other leaders.

“We have had very successful deliberations and I can assure you that these three gentlemen have agreed to work together.

"A time has come when western Kenya has to speak in one political voice and the people of this region can sleep easy knowing that the direction which we are headed is clear,” he said.

Mr Atwoli said he was tasked with seeking audience with leaders from other regions to build other alliances.

“The unity of this country is very important and you will see me speaking to other leaders from other regions so that we can all come together and offer the country direction.

"I cannot speak to them while our house is not in order and that is the reason we had this particular meeting,” he said.

Mr Wetang’ula has declared that he would vie for the presidency on a Ford Kenya ticket while Mr Jirongo recently said he would seek the top seat through Federal Party of Kenya.

The three are understood to have discussed the possibility of fielding one presidential candidate from the region during the March 4 General Election.

Justice minister Eugene Wamalwa, who had reportedly been invited through Nominated MP Musikari Kombo, did not attend the Mara talks.

Mr Wamalwa is running for the presidency on New Ford Kenya. Neither Mr Wamalwa nor Mr Kombo could be reached for comment. 

Besides consolidating the Western Province vote, Mr Mudavadi is also reported to have reached out to Mr Ruto’s United Republican Party and Ford People with a view to forging an alliance.

Meanwhile, talks between Mr Ruto and Mr Odinga have received mixed reactions from Mr Ruto’s supporters.

Eldama Ravine MP Moses Lessonet on Sunday supported the pre-election talks that took place last week between the two presidential hopefuls.

Roads minister Franklin Bett also welcomed the negotiations, saying such a pre election deal was the only sure route to State House for both the presidential candidates.

On Thursday, Mr Mudavadi was reported to have held two meetings with Mr Ruto, the first one at his Riverside Drive residence in Nairobi and the second at the URP secretariat in the afternoon.

The afternoon meeting was a follow-up of the Riverside Drive meeting, which had been interrupted to enable Mr Mudavadi attend a Cabinet meeting.

On Tuesday Mr Mudavadi held a meeting with Ford People leader Henry Obwocha.

“Yes we are talking. Our National Executive Council met and resolved that we talk to like-minded parties which are TNA, UDF and Wiper,” Ford People leader Henry Obwocha said.