Uhuru announces Ruto coalition deal

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta (left) and Eldoret North MP William Ruto during a rally at Nairagie Enkare, Narok County November 15, 2012. Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto have struck a pre-election coalition deal November 27, 2012

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto have struck a pre-election coalition deal that will see them contest the presidency on a joint ticket.

Mr Kenyatta’s spokesman Munyori Buku said that the deal will be unveiled on Sunday, at a rally to be held at the Afraha Open Grounds in Nakuru at 2pm.

"The two leaders have agreed on an alliance whose goals will be national unity, prosperity for all Kenyans, reconciliation and offers a definite and clear roadmap of making Kenya an economic powerhouse in the region, Africa and the world in the next decade,” Mr Buku said in a statement Tuesday.

He said a team from the two parties- The National Alliance (TNA) and the United Republican Party (URP)- is working on the programme and plans for the Sunday rally which will include two caravans - one starting at Kinungi near Naivasha and the other at Kuresoi – that will converge in Nakuru.

“Many other like-minded party leaders, MPs, aspirants for various seats, councillors and religious, business, women, youth, cooperatives, union, farmers and civil society leaders have been invited and will be present,” Mr Buku said.

In another development, TNA has dismissed claims that the deal with Mr Ruto’s URP will result in zoning the country.

TNA secretary general Onyango Oloo said Tuesday that TNA and URP will field candidates in all areas. He said the TNA-URP coalition deal is not crafted in a manner that denies voters the right to elect leaders of their choice.

“As a party we do not support any kind of zoning of the country. Any coalition that we enter into will be made at the level of the presidency. We have also not distributed any government positions whether at Cabinet, parastatal or ambassadorial level. This we see as propaganda from our competitors,” Mr Oloo told the Nation.

He said TNA and its partners would after forming government evaluate how much votes and seats each partner brought after the elections before filing up the various positions. Mr Oloo said TNA was also seeking political partners who share in the same values.

“Before we partner with you and form government with you after the elections, you must demonstrate the value you bring in terms of the seats and votes your party can get. You must also share in our ideals and principles,” Mr Oloo said.

There have been reports that Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto’s teams are yet to agree on how to field candidates under the coalition.

However, the Nation has established that the two agreed on Saturday that their parties remain independent but have a common name and symbol for their joint presidential ticket.