Ruto: Uhuru, Mudavadi poll deal could not 'happen'

Eldoret North MP William Ruto has said the initial agreement to hand Musalia Mudavadi the Jubilee Alliance presidential ticket was untenable.

Mr Ruto said the secret pact that would have seen Uhuru Kenyatta cede his presidential bid in favour of Mr Mudavadi did not work because there was a "constituency which did not make things happen".

"There was a challenge following the agreement," said Mr Ruto on Wednesday during Citizen TV's morning show Cheche.

The United Republican Party (URP) leader said Mr Kenyatta had good intentions when he co-opted Mr Mudavadi into the Jubilee Alliance and wanted things to work deep down in his heart.

“He (Mr Kenyatta) had good intentions but it looks like those other people did not,” said Mr Ruto without elaborating.

Following the impasse, Mr Ruto said Mr Kenyatta and himself had to ponder available options of consensus and nomination through a national delegate systems.

He said Mr Kenyatta and Mr Mudavadi will now have to slug it out through a nomination process with the winner flying the Alliance's flag.

On Tuesday, Mr Mudavadi said Mr Kenyatta had agreed to step down for him.

However, Mr Kenyatta, while conceding that there was such an agreement, said The National Alliance (TNA) delegates had rejected it outright.

Mr Kenyatta claimed that he was forced to sign the agreement with Mr Mudavadi after being blackmailed by “dark forces” whose identities he did not reveal.

“Yes, I signed the agreement after being compelled to do so by dark forces who claimed that a Kikuyu can’t be elected and that foreigners will suspend aid to Kenya,” he said.

On Wednesday, Mr Ruto said Mr Kenyatta was a human being and could have been persuaded to sign the deal.

The Eldoret North MP defended the decision to vie for elective posts despite facing crimes against humanity charges at International Criminal Court (ICC).

He said Mr Kenyatta and himself could not subordinate their constitutional rights for mere allegations and falsehoods.

“If we had participated in a coup to make ourselves get into government it would be untenable.

"But if we participated in a democratic process and we are elected, who are you to tell millions of Kenyans that you cannot elect Uhuru Kenyatta and Willliam Ruto?" he posed.