Raila’s critics flock to back Ruto Mau fund

• Members of Cabinet and 50 MPs gather to raise money and hit out at Prime Minister

It was billed as a simple fundraising event for squatters evicted from the Mau Forest, but the loaded political speeches pointed to a new political grouping united by a common antipathy towards Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Key participants were Agriculture minister William Ruto and the chief guest, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, reflecting a regrouping of the Kanu leadership brought to the fore ahead of the 2002 elections.

Another key Kanu leader of the time, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, was expected to put in an appearance but sent his apologies, a donation of Sh100,000 and words of support.

The three make up the so-called 3Ks, the mooted Kalenjin-Kikuyu-Kamba alliance seen by its promoters as the best way to stop Mr Odinga in his tracks come 2012.

Mr Ruto, an ODM deputy leader, has been openly at odds with his party boss over the Mau evictions and a host of other issues ranging from public service appointments to proposals that key perpetrators of the post-election violence be tried, whether by a local tribunal or the International Criminal Court.

On Wednesday evening, the Eldoret North MP demonstrated his political clout by assembling 10 ministers and more than 50 MPs from across the political divide to launch broadsides at Mr Odinga.

The powerful line-up at the Panafric Hotel raised Sh5 million, but the speeches made it apparent that the agenda was not so much the plight of the Mau evictees but the opportunity to hit out at Mr Odinga, who was variously labelled as dictatorial, dishonest and trouble-maker unfit to lead the country.

A day before the event, it was rumoured that Mr Odinga had held a meeting with President Kibaki and asked him to prevail on Mr Musyoka and Mr Kenyatta not to attend as this would indicate a divided government. The latter’s entry was greeted by loud cheers.

Mr Musyoka was in Mombasa on official business, but was represented by a key ally, Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo, who sent greetings from the VP with the reminder that he had warned Kenyans against Mr Odinga.

The ODM-K secretary general said justice must be done in Mau and took the opportunity to announce that the VP would soon be seeking political support from Rift Valley residents.

Mr Musyoka has been at the forefront in pushing the KKK agenda, to the discomfort of Mr Ruto and Mr Kenyatta who have both, in public at least, criticised the formation of ethnic groupings.

Mr Kenyatta emphasised that he was not contradicting a government stand on Mau by participating, saying he had attended such drives for IDPs before.

On Friday, an aide to Mr Kenyatta, former MP David Murathe, denied that the Deputy PM had been asked by the President to skip the fund-raiser. Mr Murathe said there was no way Mr Kenyatta could defy a collective government decision but had every right to attend the function to promote reconciliation.

A source close to Mr Musyoka confirmed that the VP had been called by the President and alerted that his participation would send wrong signals.

Mr Ruto questioned why some people did not want the harambee to take place yet similar fundraisers had been held for Sachang’wan, Nakumatt and Faza Island fire victims.