Is Kanu regrouping for 2012?

The line-up at last Wednesday’s harambee (fundraiser) for Mau evictees spoke volumes about the apparent re-grouping of former Kanu kingpins who were swept out of power in 2002. The guests included politicians who spearheaded Kanu’s presidential campaigns in 2002.

Politicians allied to Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Agriculture minister William Ruto told the Sunday Nation of ongoing negotiations among those involved in the Kanu 2002 campaigns to re-group ahead of the next election. Another key player linked to the ongoing talks is Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, a long-serving Kanu national organising secretary in the Moi days who only bolted from the party in October 2002 to join the Narc brigade that propelled Mwai Kibaki to State House.

That the Uhuru 2002 campaign brigade was re-grouping was clear from the list of those who attended the controversial harambee at the Nairobis' Panafric Hotel in aid of families removed from the Mau Forest. They included Mr Kenyatta and the three politicians who spearheaded his failed bid, the two Rutos – William and Isaac – and Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo.

Back then both Rutos had been elevated to full ministerial positions by President Daniel arap Moi following the sacking and resignations of a host of ministers. They worked with Mr Jirongo and Mr Julius Sunkuli, who was in charge of national security and provincial administration during President Moi’s last days in office, and traversed the country campaigning for Mr Kenyatta.

Lesser players

Other lesser players in the Kanu 2002 campaigns who attended the harambee included Cabinet ministers Mutula Kilonzo and Mohammed Yusuf Haji. Mr Haji and former minister Hussein Maalim led Mr Kenyatta’s campaign in North Eastern Province, while Mr Kilonzo, as the retired president’s lawyer, worked on the sidelines and was rewarded with a nomination to Parliament by Kanu in January 2003.

The harambee’s convenor, Kuresoi MP Zakayo Cheruiyot, was the Permanent Secretary in the Internal Security and Provincial Administration ministry and is said to have played a key role in marshalling civil servants to back Mr Kenyatta’s candidacy. “The harambee brought together like-minded MPs. It was not a calculated move (to invite the 2002 Uhuru campaign team). Those who attended are our true friends, and they are the people we will do business with in future,” said Cherangany MP Joshua Kutuny, who was one of the masters of ceremony during the fund-raiser.

The clearest indication that the 2002 Uhuru campaign team was re-grouping came from Tourism minister Najib Balala when he said that Mr Kenyatta, Mr Ruto and the absent VP were the men to watch come 2012. Mr Musyoka sent a donation and apologies through Justice minister Kilonzo. “You see this high table, this is the future; if you are not here, you are not the future,” Mr Balala said, adding that the Wednesday meeting was “just the beginning’’.

Similar sentiments were echoed by Kamukunji MP Simon Mbugua, a Kenyatta ally, who said, “The gathering represented a political alliance for the young generation to take over the leadership of this country. It was not a harambee per se; it was all about 2012.” According to strategists, the game plan is to forge a common front and isolate Prime Minister Raila Odinga come 2012.

The harambee offered a good opportunity to demonstrate their collective opposition to Mr Odinga. It also provided a rare opportunity to display the array of politicians opposed to the PM’s leadership now and in future. That the team is determined to reach out to political leaders from all the country’s provinces with a view to isolating Mr Odinga was illustrated by the regions represented.

They included Mr Jirongo and Lands assistant minister Bifwoli Wakoli (Western), Mr Kilonzo, Mr Kiraitu Murungi and Mr Mohammed Kuti (Eastern), and Mr Haji, Mr Mohammed Elmi, Mr Mohammed Affey and Mr Aden Duale (North Eastern). Mr Kenyatta led the Central province team while Mr Balala and Special Programmes minister Naomi Shabaan represented Coast province.

The Rift Valley team was led by Mr Ruto (William) and Roads minister Franklin Bett, although conspicuously absent were Industrialisation minister Henry Kosgey and MPs Musa Sirma and Magerer Langat, who are said to be allied to the PM. Higher Education minister Dr Sally Kosgei, also accused in some quarters of backing the PM, was on an official trip but sent her apologies.

The only region not represented was Nyanza, and organisers announced later that Trade assistant minister Omingo Magara had sent his donation. Mr Magara has openly identified with Mr Ruto in his fight with Mr Odinga. The attendance of MPs from the Mt Kenya region was praised by the organisers.

Friend indeed

“Our brothers from Central have clearly demonstrated that they mean well because a friend in need is a friend indeed,” said Mr Kutuny. Mr Kipkorir Menjo, who went to court in 2001 to stop the excision of parts of Mau and other forests, and Bukusu council of elders member Lucas Watta, said the MPs are fighting a losing battle. “Many of them are beneficiaries of illegal allocations of forest land and are using Mr Odinga as a scapegoat,” Mr Watta said. “It’s a fight between the truth and propaganda,” Mr Menjo said.