Ruto, Uhuru allies clash on Cabinet jobs

Mr Uhuru Kenyatta’s TNA and William Ruto’s URP are locked in a battle over the sharing of the 22 Cabinet slots in a coalition they plan to announce by the end of the month.

The differences came as Mr Ruto told supporters in Nairobi that he was still in the presidential race, contradicting earlier claims the he would be Mr Kenyatta’s running mate.

MPs privy to the negotiations said URP was demanding 11 of the 22 slots and the National Assembly speaker’s position for the party’s chairman, Mr Francis ole Kaparo.

Mr Ruto’s negotiating team wants Mr Kenyatta to share the seats set aside for TNA with New Ford Kenya’s Eugene Wamalwa and Water minister Charity Ngilu of Narc.

“Our interest is clear; we are negotiating on a 50-50 basis. Narc and New Ford Kenya belong to TNA. Our negotiations are based on each party’s worth. So what TNA gets, they will have to share with their friends, for us, we are talking as URP and we have no extra load on us,” said Belgut MP Charles Keter.

He went on: “ Eugene and Charity are talking directly to Uhuru Kenyatta. They have been holding negotiations for a long time. We only come in when their deal is done.”
Apart from the 11 Cabinet slots TNA will get the slot for senate speaker.

On Wednesday, assistant minister Kareke Mbiuki said TNA was not comfortable with URP’s proposal. (READ: Why Ruto and Uhuru are yet to sign G7 elections deal)

“We want collective negotiations so that the burden of sharing the Cabinet positions and any other government positions becomes the responsibility of the two principles.

"We want our brothers from the URP not to negotiate selfishly because I can foresee a situation where things may slip out of our hands if we are not careful,” said Mr Mbiuki.

He said seats should be shared based on the votes delivered by each party. “If URP is demanding 50 per cent, then what will other parties get? What will Merus get? What will Kisiis get? We are not comfortable with that demand,” said Mr Mbiuki.

Earlier, Mr Ruto told a press conference at his URP offices that he was still in the presidential race.

“Who told you I want to be a running mate? URP is a serious national party with a serious agenda, a serious contender. It is here to stay and will be there after the elections,” he told journalists in Nairobi.

Elsewhere in Kapsabet, Mr Musyoka claimed Mr Ruto chose to pitch tent with people who could not be trusted.

“I wanted William Ruto to be my running mate but he was not willing. Some now want him to be their running mate,” said the Wiper presidential aspirant.

In Nairobi, MPs allied to Mr Mudavadi of the United Democratic Forum (UDF) and Mr Musyoka said the two leaders met on Monday evening for four hours and agreed on the structure of their own coalition. They are also planning to start holding joint rallies.

The structure was prepared by MPs David Musila (Wiper), Charles Kilonzo (Wiper), Boni Khalwale (UDF) and Jeremiah Kioni (UDF).

“The leaders of the two parties met on Monday and agreed that they should work together. They will now inform members of their respective parties so that they can start working as a team,” said Mr Kilonzo, who is also Yatta MP.