Kalonzo: I am Ruto’s big brother, I have no grudge against him

By Michael Chepkwony and Edwin Cheserek

NANDI, KENYA: Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka has said he bears no ill feelings against Eldoret North legislator William Ruto, saying he is ready to liaise with him to form the next government.

The Wiper Democratic Movement presidential aspirant said he was Ruto’s “big brother” and bore no political grudge against him.

He said before a crowd of cheering supporters that: “I am Ruto’s big brother. I have no grudge against him.”

Kalonzo, who is on a tour of the North Rift region, was addressing a rally at the Kipchoge Keino stadium in Kapsabet, Nandi County.

He said he had been holding talks with Ruto, adding there was a possibility of joining hands with him ahead of the polls.

“I even talked with him this morning before I came to this region. I hope that we shall work with him,” he added.

Kalonzo made the statement after nominated MP Mohammed Affey, who had accompanied him, urged the Kalenjin to encourage Ruto to form an alliance with the Vice President.

Competent to lead

Affey said: “Kalonzo has served as a VP for several years and is competent to lead the country as head of state. We urge you to advise Ruto to hold talks with him and agree on the way forward.”

Kalonzo, who expressed confidence that he would win during the next General Election, criticised pollsters, saying they were misleading Kenyans with false statistics.

The Wiper leader said the pollsters had led the country into uncertainty in 2007 when they gave wrong statistics that led Kenyans into fighting each other.

“What happened in 2007 was contributed by the pollsters and unless they stop misleading we are in danger of recurrence of such conflicts,” he said.

The VP also urged residents to elect leaders based on their policies rather than tribal alignments.

And speaking at Koisolik Secondary School grounds in Mosop Constituency, Kalonzo, who was also accompanied by Makueni MP Peter Kiilu, stressed on the need for Kenyans to vote in capable and trustworthy leaders to steer the nation to greater heights.

“I have come here today to appeal to you to vote for me to succeed President Mwai Kibaki come the next General Election. By voting for Kalonzo you will have saved your country as I am committed to uniting all the Kenyan communities,” he said.

The VP said time had come for Kenyans to elect leaders who were ready to fight against negative ethnicity and tribalism.

Kalonzo said he was better placed to lead the country given his experience.

“Kenyans should not waste time looking for somebody else to succeed President Kibaki and yet I am here as his Vice-President who has what it takes to be the next president,” he said.

The VP at the same time assured Kenyans that firm security measures had been put in place to contain insecurity in some parts of the country.

He condemned the brutal killing of security officers in Baragoi, Samburu County, saying the Government had moved swiftly to contain the situation.

Convene a meeting

He said he would convene a meeting of leaders from Pokot, Samburu, Turkana, Isiolo and Baringo in his office on Friday to explore ways and means of restoring law and order in the affected area.

“I want to assure Kenyans that the Government has moved to contain the situation. The Government has acted and it will stamp its authority on the ground,” he said.

He said that if elected president, he would issue a six-month ultimatum to residents in possession of illegal firearms to surrender them. “Only security officers are entitled to carry firearms,” he said.

Mr Kiilu and Mr Affey urged the Kalenjin community to support Kalonzo.