Politics
Raila-Ruto split spills to grassroots
A split has emerged among grassroots supporters of Prime Minister Raila Odinga and those of Agriculture minister William Ruto over the latter’s declaration that he will run for the presidency in 2012.
MPs and other leaders allied to the two leaders are not only being viewed suspiciously but in some cases schemes have been put in place to counter moves by opposing camps.
Some of the MPs in Nyanza who have close links with Mr Ruto and whose activities are being viewed suspiciously include Mr Otieno Ogindo (Rangwe), Mr Oyugi Magwanga (Kasibul Kabondo) and assistant minister Joshua Ojode (Ndhiwa).
In Rift Valley, among MPs viewed as being close to Mr Odinga include Cabinet ministers Franklin Bett, Sally Kosgei and Henry Kosgey. There is also assistant minister Beatrice Kones and MPs Margerer Langat (Kipkelion) and Musa Sirma (nominated).
Tugen elder
A recent case where Mr Sirma was declared a Tugen elder in a function attended by Mr Odinga’s brother, Mr Oburu Oginga, and former MP Reuben Ndolo is a case in point. According Bomet mayor Leonard Barmusei, a close ally of Mr Ruto, the ceremony was stage-managed with ulterior motives.
“The ceremony to elevate Mr Sirma to a Tugen elder in a ceremony that was not attended by known elders from the community and other leaders was in bad taste,” he said. Mr Barsumei said Mr Sirma was being used by supporters of the Prime Minister to undermine Mr Ruto, a move he said was not bound to fail.
And Kisumu ODM chairman Dave Okwatch, a staunch supporter of Mr Odinga, reads ulterior motives behind Mr Ruto’s fundraising meetings in a number of constituencies in Nyanza Province. “Although Mr Ruto has a democratic right to contest the presidency and help different communities in the country, there must be a hidden agenda behind his fundraising meetings in Nyanza given that he is now eyeing the presidency,” he said.
Mr Okwatch said it is suspected Mr Ruto has been holding secret meetings with a number of MPs and other leaders in Nyanza region. The Agriculture minister has in the recent past held fundraisers in Rangwe, Ndhiwa and Kasibul Kabondo constituencies.
In Kipkelion, Mr Langat has not been having it easy since hosting Mr Odinga in his constituency where a section of South Rift legislators including Mr Langat indicated that they were not going to support any presidential candidate blindly come 2012.
The South Rift MPs have indicated that they would chart their own political path, independent of the larger Rift Valley. They also said they would continue to work with the Prime Minister. However, recently Mr Langat had a glimpse of things to come when a group of civic leaders in his constituency voiced their displeasure with his position.
Mr Ruto has recently admitted that he has presidential ambitions and that he will vie against Prime Minister Raila Odinga for the ODM ticket ahead of 2012. “I would not lie that I do not have presidential ambitions. I do. I believe that when the time comes, I will take the necessary steps. I do also believe that I have something to offer this country,” he told the Sunday Nation in a recent exclusive interview.
A political scientist at Masinde University of Science and Technology, Prof Frank Matanga, says Mr Ruto’s decision to join the presidential race come 2012 is likely to have major political implications given that Rift Valley, where he hails from, has a massive voting power.
Prof Matanga, however, adds that Mr Ruto should tread carefully given that he has not yet emerged as a political kingmaker in Rift Valley. Prof Matanga adds that Mr Ruto seems to be exploiting the dissatisfaction of a section of Kalenjin politicians over the distribution of ministerial appointments and other senior positions for his own political gain.
Prof Matanga however, adds that Mr Ruto’s contradictory stand on national matters as championed by other ODM leaders such as Mr Odinga and deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi may just be his undoing in terms of his popularity in national politics.
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Mr Ruto should really trade carefully as he may find himself in a hoax. For one he is dealing with Raila Odinga and anything could happen at anytime. But he should avoid tribal politics and check on the way he is dealing with national matters.
RSS