Kibaki has not betrayed me, says VP Musyoka

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has refuted claims by his close ally Johnstone Muthama that President Kibaki has reneged on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to back him for the presidency during the General Election.

In a statement, the Mr Musyoka maintained that President Kibaki does not owe him any political debt because the deal he entered into with the Party of National Unity (PNU) after the 2007 General Election was not premised on any conditions.

“I should state also that PNU and WDM (K) then ODM (K) formed the first coalition in January 2008 in order to stabilise the country before the Grand Coalition was subsequently established,” the VP said in a statement. “The Framework Coalition Document as signed by the negotiating teams did not contain any preconditions. Therefore, the President does not owe me any political debt whatsoever,’ he added.

The VP’s reactions follows remarks attributed to the Kangundo MP to the effect that the President had betrayed the VP by reneging on the post 2007 election pact.

Speaking in Machakos town on Tuesday, Mr Muthama said he had opted to push for a deal with Prime Minister Raila Odinga because the president’s men had betrayed Mr Musyoka.

Mr Muthama claimed he was part of a four member team drawn from ODM-Kenya and PNU that negotiated the MoU that saw Mr Musyoka appointed the VP.

Under the MoU, President Kibaki was to serve for one term and back Mr Musyoka’s presidential bid in the next General Election, Mr Muthama claimed.

Other members of the negotiating team according to the Kangundo MP included Transport Minister Amos Kimunya and the late John Michuki from the president side and Mwingi South MP David Musila from Mr Musyoka’s party.

Mr Musyoka termed Mr Muthama’s remarks “disturbing” and maintained that he enjoys very good relations with the president.

“Indeed, I have understudied President Kibaki’s leadership style and I am confident that he has prepared me adequately for the leadership of the country should Kenyans grant me their mandate in the forthcoming elections,” he stated.

By virtue of being a close ally of the VP and the Wiper Democratic Movement’s Chief whip, Mr Muthama has often been seen to speak on behalf of his party boss.

When he hosted Mr Odinga to his Kangundo rural home and later to a rally in Kangundo town last week, Mr Muthama said he had the full blessings of the VP to welcome the PM. On that day, the VP was on an official trip abroad.

Mr Muthama went further to disclose that a political deal between the two erstwhile political foes was in the offing.

On Sunday, Mr Muthama turned up at the Nairobi City stadium for a soccer match between Gor Mahia and Tusker FC in the company of the PM heightening the perception that a political deal between Mr Odinga and Mr Musyoka was in the offing.

However, the party’s National Executive Council has since disowned any political arrangement between Mr Odinga and Mr Musyoka, maintaining that it was only in talks with Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta’s The National Alliance (TNA) and the United Republican Party (URP) of Eldoret North MP William Ruto.