Governor Isaac Ruto team to defy threats and push for vote

Buoyed by findings of a latest opinion poll which puts Pesa Mashinani as the most popular referendum initiative, the chairman of Council of Governors, Mr Isaac Ruto, has vowed to defy alleged intimidation by the Executive and forge forward to the very end.   

“This is an initiative of the people and I will personally not rest until our people at the grassroots get the much needed cash to stir up development and improve their welfare. On this one, we will not accept to be intimidated or coerced by anybody,” Ruto told The Standard On Sunday.

If findings by Ipsos Synovate are to be believed, then more Kenyans support the governors’-led Pesa Mashinani initiative than those who approve of the “Okoa Kenya” push, spearheaded by the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD).

According to the survey conducted between October 11 and October 13, 53 per cent of respondents support the push by the Ruto-led initiative, as compared to 38 who support the campaign by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga-led CORD.

While most people across the country and the political divide are wallowing in poverty or experiencing economic hardships and accordingly want more cash devolved to counties, they are sharply divided on the Ruto and Raila-led initiatives.

“There is no doubt that Kenyans are crying out for help. However, it is ironic that some would rather suffer quietly simply because their political party leaders – who themselves are swimming in abundant cash and enjoying other lofty facilities – are discouraging them from accessing public money,” regrets Ruto.

CORD-allied Suna East MP Muhammad Junet conceded that the Pesa Mashinani initiative may be more popular because it purely addresses the question of money, which is of great interest to every struggling Kenyan.

“On the contrary, the CORD-driven exercise is laden with heavier issues of devolution, governance, land and electoral reforms. In a way, however, the survey greatly complements these two initiatives, because allocation of more money to counties is also part of our prayers,” says Junnet.  

Before the rare boost from Ipsos, the governors-led campaign was tottering with the Governors’ council chairman abandoned by more than half of the 47 governors. While some of those who withdrew their support from the Pesa Mashinani initiative have been vocal about it, the majority have opted to stay mum. The latter lot includes the governors’ chief whip Kenneth Lusaka of Bungoma County, who is one of the three top executive officials of CoG. The other officials are Ruto and Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya, who is the council vice chairman.  With the other governors, particularly from the ruling coalition of Jubilee keeping off the campaign, the Bomet County Governor has largely cut a lonely figure. Only Jubilee-allied counterparts from Meru and Kericho counties, Peter Munya and Prof Paul Chepkwony respectively, have publicly demonstrated solidarity with Ruto.

The governors’ push has also been muddled by the other initiative spearheaded by Opposition leaders, Raila, Senate Leader of Minority Moses Wetang’ula, former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua. And because the two are running parallel, some like the Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen allege that Pesa Mashinani initiative operates under the wings of the CORD-led Okoa Kenya.  

Parallel votes

Noting that two parallel referendum polls on similar grounds cannot be held at any given time, Murkomen, who chairs the Senate Devolution Committee, maintains that Pesa Mashinani and Okoa Kenya are “one and the same”.

The legislator alleges the former Prime Minister is the driver of the two processes, while Ruto is the “makanga” (tout) of referendum bus.

In what appears to be a ploy to cause Ruto disfavour among backers in the so-called Jubilee zones, this narrative of linking the governors’ initiative with Raila, has quickly gained currency. When he opted out of the campaign in May, for instance, Nyeri County Governor, Nderitu Gachagua said he was doing so because the initiative had allegedly been hijacked by the CORD leader. Separately, there are those who feel that too much money is already coming in the way of governors and that they must demonstrate ability to spend what is in their kitty before demanding more. Noting that the idea of increasing funding at county levels is agreeable to most Kenyans, Senate Speaker Ekwe Ethuro, for instance, points out that the governors are enemies unto themselves in their push: “Even if the answer to the people’s economic needs at grassroots level is through referendum, Kenyans will only be comfortable to increase budgetary allocation to an accountable entity. By declining to be audited, most people may not be enthusiastic to allocate governors more funds to manage”.      

However, Ruto attributes most of the impediments to the Pesa Mashinani initiative to politics.

He points out that it was expected there would be intimidation and cajoling of governors, particularly in Central and Rift Valley regions, by the President and his deputy: “But the threats are just that – and some of the governors have opted to quietly continue with the referendum campaign.” 

Signature collection

The governors chairman divulged that the collection of signatures in the Jubilee strongholds was going on successfully with slightly over 117,000 signatures having been collected in Bomet County alone by last Friday.

On accusations that he is teaming up with Raila soon, the Bomet Governor denied the allegation, saying it has not come up yet. But speaking a fortnight ago in Kisumu town, Ruto hinted at a possible merger with the Okoa Kenya initiative.

“If we have a common position on this matter (increased funds allocation to counties), then what is wrong with that? Or what is wrong with joining forces? Are CORD supporters not Kenyans, or are they Ugandans?,” he reacted.

Ruto may well have uttered these words to appease his audience in the political backyard of CORD leader, Raila. But either way, the merger between the two initiatives remains a plausible and practical idea.

In the event that either initiative collapses midway, its proponents can always be swallowed by the other initiative in a face-saving  measure. And more importantly, statistics in the Ipsos poll suggest that jointly, Pesa Mashinani and Okoa Kenya can “eat into” Jubilee territory. If they were to merge, it is anticipated that support for a referendum would grow to 47 per cent. According to the survey, 28 per cent of those who support Pesa Mashinani are Jubilee loyalists, while 19 per cent of Jubilee loyalists back the Okoa Kenya initiative. “We want to dissuade Kenyans from viewing this matter from a Jubilee or Cord point of view. People from regions that voted for the President also want more money in their counties and once we succeed, they will equally benefit,” said Ruto.