Uhuru, Ruto working on compromise candidate

By Martin Mutua and Vitalis Kimutai

Eldoret North MP William Ruto and The National Alliance leader Uhuru Kenyatta are reportedly in discussions over which presidential aspirants they should support if they will be barred from running. 

Though the deliberations are closely guarded just like that going on between them on a pre-election agreement, sources within their political camps reveal they are keen on making sure they have a ‘friendly’ President should they not be able to run.

Both sides appreciate the danger of the court case challenging their eligibility to run because of crimes against humanity charges facing them at The Hague, but also believe they should be on the ballot since they have not been convicted.

Officially, the two sides do not want it known they are working on a ‘Plan B’ because of the jolt it could give their supporters.

A senior politician close to the two told The Standard the issue of the International Criminal Court case is now at the centre of any pre-election pacts they may choose to sign with other aspirants.

When Uhuru went to Ruto’s home last week, this was one of the issues discussed, and a committee was constituted to refine discussions on this weighty and potentially career-breaking matter. They met ahead of today’s expected arrival of ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda who, among other things, will visit the post-election violence hotspots, like Rift Valley.

Bensouda who replaced Mr Luis Moreno-Ocampo in June is on her first trip to Kenya since her appointment and will address a media conference at the Serena Hotel in Nairobi this morning.

Last week the thorny ICC issue was also discussed when Ruto hosted Rift Valley MPs at his house. “We have decided the issue of ICC must be dealt with before we get to the elections and that is an issue we are taking very seriously,” Cherangany MP Joshua Kuttuny told The Standard.

However, when pressed to say how they intended to go about it, Kuttuny explained the matter was being addressed and he could not divulge the details, but added: “Watch this space.”

Sources reveal Uhuru and Ruto resolved they should play key roles in putting together the next government if they were to stay relevant.

“If our two leaders are not part of the next government it means they will be forgotten and that is a sure way of having them left at the mercy of ICC by whoever will be in power,” another source that attended the meeting disclosed.

Sources further claimed both Ruto and Uhuru had formed negotiation teams to take charge of their pre-election pacts in the run up to the march 4, 2013 polls.

“The meetings that took place in the last two weeks will continue this week, but they are mostly dealing with how the pre-election pact will be crafted,” said a politician from Uhuru’s inner circle.

Uhuru’s spokesman Mr Munyori Buku, however said the issue of a compromise candidate had not arisen in meetings Uhuru has had with other aspirants.

“The issue of a compromise candidate is certainly not Uhuru’s language and those bandying it around have sensed their own weaknesses and impending defeat,” Munyori said.

The team picked to handle the negotiations from Ruto’s side are MPs Charles Keter (Belgut), Adan Dualle (Dujis) and Isaac Ruto (Chepalungu), as well as Assistant minister Kazungu Kambi (Kaloleni).

Uhuru’s team comprises Cabinet minister Jamleck Kamau, nominated MP Rachel Shebesh and Juja MP William Kabogo.

However, the sources that asked not to be named said the teams were not conclusive and there could be more members co-opted or the teams could be reorganised.

 “We do not want to grope in the dark, we want that the moment we agree on anything serious we document (it) to avoid any short-changing,” added another source.

Keter, who is a close ally of Ruto, however told The Standard so far the two had reached nothing concrete. Keter said the United Republican Party is a serious contender for the presidency and they were going flat-out to campaign for Ruto to ensure he captures the seat.

A close ally of Ruto told The Standard the Eldoret North MP has insisted Uhuru backs him in the polls, but his response had not augured well with the team.

“Uhuru told Ruto that he was prepared to back him as the presidential candidate, but he was not sure that his Central Province supporters would do so,” added the MP who preferred anonymity for fear of reprisal.

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi are reportedly being considered for endorsement by the two in case they would not be running.

Alarm bells in the two camps rang after former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan who negotiated Kenya’s power-sharing deal that ended post-election violence said an Uhuru or Ruto presidency would not augur well for Kenya internationally.

His comment came after a closed-door meeting with Chief Justice Dr Willy Mutunga who has also spoken about integrity cases in the past.

Uhuru and Ruto immediately led their allies in telling Annan to keep off Kenyan affairs because elections was an internal affair and the people had a right to pick leaders of their choice.

It could also be unease with the future that led Uhuru and several MPs sympathetic to him and Ruto to fly to Tanzania to meet President Jakaya Kikwete, who also played a leading role in Kenya’s peace deal in 2008 (Read separate story).

Two weeks ago, Uhuru, Kalonzo and Ruto held a consultative meeting at Norfolk Hotel where the issue of a compromise candidate was said to have been discussed.

However, both Uhuru and Ruto dismissed the claims saying it was a misrepresentation of facts picked up the media.

Kalonzo is said to have held a series of meetings with Ruto and the two had discussed scenarios of post-election and pre-election pacts.

“I can tell you that Musyoka and Ruto have narrowed down to a pre-election pact but nothing has been put on paper yet,” said WDM nominated MP Mohamed Affey, who works closely with the VP.

A source at WDM confided to The Standard Kalonzo and Ruto had a teleconference conversation on Saturday while the VP was in London over the unfolding political scenarios.

Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto said in the event that Uhuru and William Ruto are barred from contesting the presidency, then the compromise candidate would be either Kalonzo or Mudavadi. “The problem at the moment is that Uhuru is still viewed more of as a Kikuyu candidate than a national leader and voters still have a problem with that,” the Chepalungu MP argued.

He argued: “Musyoka would have to come out of his cocoon and project an image of a national leader and that of a fighter as opposed to the lacklustre politics he is currently engaged in.”

 “Constitutionally, Uhuru and Ruto are free to contest for the presidency and that would be a good thing for this country. We are working hard to ensure the two leaders craft a pre-election alliance so that there would be no need for a run off,” Kuttuny said.

Molo MP Joseph Kiuna said: “In TNA, we do not even want to think of a contest without Uhuru as we are ready and prepared to win the Presidency.”