Kalonzo: I am not ready to be anyone's running mate

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has said he is not ready to be anyone's running mate in the next General Election.

Mr Musyoka dismissed reports that the Wiper Democratic Movement (WDM) party had agreed a pre-election deal with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

"For anybody to suggest that I, Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, can be somebody’s deputy is misleading the Kenyan population," he said during celebrations to mark the World Aids Day at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru Saturday.

"I am not saying that it can’t happen. I am just saying that it has not happened," said Mr Musyoka.

The VP said Wiper's national executive council has not met to discuss pre-election issues as reported in the media.

"What I read in sections of the media are not accurate because our party’s national executive council has not met to discuss on such a document and I wonder which part of the world we are in when we read such statements."

Mr Musyoka, however, said that his party was ready to engage in talks with other political parties.

"But this does not mean that we cannot talk to each other as Kenyans," he said.

He told the meeting attended by Cabinet minister Esther Murugi, assistant minister Lee Kinyanjui and PS Andrew Mondoh among others that the December 4 deadline to deposit coalition agreements with the Registrar of Political Parties has created anxiety among Kenyans.

He said life will move on after that date and even after the March 4, 2013 General Election.

Mr Musyoka said he will name his running mate on January 4 next year, which will be the deadline according to the law.

He distanced himself from coalitions based on tribal arithmetic.

“We should not auction our communities. Coalitions should not be about how many votes you can bring to the table. I am ready to talk to any Kenyan leader who wants to form a coalition of ideas.”

The Vice President said smaller parties can merge to form a strong coalition that can accommodate all communities for the sake of peace and stability.

He said Kenyans should elect leaders irrespective of tribal and political affiliations.

On the HIV and Aids scourge, Mr Musyoka praised the move by the Ministry of Special Programmes and National Aids Control Council to establish an HIV Equity Tribunal in Kenya.

"This tribunal represents a bold step towards achieving the goal of eliminating stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV by promoting laws and policies that advanced human rights and fundamental freedoms,’’ he said.

He called on members of the public to make use of the tribunal to ensure that their rights are not violated because of their HIV positive status.

Ms Murugi expressed concern that the total number of HIV cases in Kenya has increased from 1.4 million in 2007 to the current estimated 1.6million people.

She said the success of the HIV and AIDS control programme in the country is attributed to political commitment marked by the increased resources with the government channelling over Sh3billion to fight the epidemic.