G7 leaders differ on voting date

The G7 Alliance was on Saturday split on when the next General Election should be held.

The alliance’s leaders who were in Bungoma for a prayer rally expressed varied views over the date, with Deputy Prime minister Uhuru Kenyatta seemingly supporting the March 4, 2013 and Eldoret North MP William Ruto pushing for a December 2012.

President Kibaki prefers the March date while Prime Minister Raila Odinga prefers December this year.

Addressing roadside gatherings in Kimilili and Chwele the Eldoret North MP said it was wrong for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to announce a March date when most Kenyans wanted the elections in December.

“Where did they get the March date from? Let the people decide when they want elections to be held,” Mr Ruto said amid cheers and chants of “December! December!” from the crowd.

He said only Parliament would have the final say on when the elections would be held.

“We as MPs will move a Motion to move the elections date back to December this year,” he said.

He pointed out that President Kibaki’s term expires on December 31 while that of Parliament expires on January 15.

“We will be having a President and Parliament illegally if elections are held in March next year,” the United Republican Party leader said.

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka kept off the debate and said Prime Minister Raila Odinga was scheming to have Eldoret North MP William Ruto and Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta locked up at the Hague so that the two do not challenge him for the presidency.

He added that the cases at the ICC had been politicised and were not being looked at holistically.

“As a lawyer I can confidently say the cases do not meet the threshold to go for trial,” he said.

Mr Kenyatta and Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa said that all those interested in leadership should prepare themselves now that the elections date is known.

Similar sentiments came from Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni, who said the G7 was ready for elections any time.

Mr Wamalwa said: “We are not going to stop until elections are held and we emerge victorious.”

Mr Kenyatta said he was ready to support anyone in the G7 Alliance as long as he and his people would be part of the government.

“There are many positions in government and all of us from the G7 stand to benefit from the new government that we are going to form,” he said.

He and Mr Ruto criticised Prime Minister Raila Odinga saying he was pushing for their prosecution at the ICC so that he could win the elections.

“We urge you to shun selfish leaders who are out for personal gains and do not have the interest of the nation at heart,” Mr Kenyatta said.

“Kenya is not for a few selfish people and that is why we should shun them. We will remain united up to the end so that we shame the devil,” he added.