By Ndung’u Wainaina

Presidential aspirants from central Kenya argue some of their political rivals are being underhanded in playing the ethnic card to undermine their prospects.

“Candidates should be judged in their individual capacity, not as members of some grouping they didn’t choose,” one aspirant says. Another says talk of communities taking turns in State House is a potentially divisive non-issue.

As Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Deputy PM Musalia Mudavadi took their pre-campaign rallies to the region, they were reminded they must beat leaders from local communities on merit, not because their communities are owed a turn at the helm.

Their rivals from central Kenya made it clear they see no reason their ethnic background should bar them from succeeding President Kibaki, saying the same barrier is not being applied to other candidates.

Several groups linked to ODM, including Kikuyus for Change, have argued that the country should not get another president from Mount Kenya communities, having lived under presidents Jomo Kenyatta and Mwai Kibaki. Proponents of this theory say to vote in another leader from the region would be “selfish”.

Initially seen as targeting Deputy PM Uhuru Kenyatta, the strongest rival to Prime Minister Raila Odinga, this argument is also being used against fellow contenders Peter Kenneth (Gatanga) and Martha Karua (Gichugu).

But the trio and their supporters contend their candidatures should not be tied to the past tenants of State House. They point out that former President Daniel Moi’s 24-year reign has not aroused similar sentiments against presidential hopefuls from the Rift Valley like Eldoret North MP William Ruto.

This may, however, become a factor should Mr Uhuru and Mr Ruto, both facing trial at the International Criminal Court, come together on one ticket. An alliance between the two is considered potent as they have strong support from their ethnic communities and could command 25 counties in Rift Valley, Central and Eastern Kenya.

UDF hopeful Musalia Mudavadi added a new twist to the matter when he called for support from the region as payback for supporting Uhuru’s unsuccessful presidential bid in 2002. Seeing this as a variant of the ODM argument, Ms Karua responded swiftly to dismiss the idea of a communal political debt.

“We don’t owe Kenyans any leadership debts just because of Kenyatta’s and Kibaki’s presidencies,” the Gichugu MP said. “They were all elected on the basis of their performance, not their tribe.”

Similar criticism

But even as central Kenya aspirants fight off the ‘lock-out’ strategy, they are grappling with an intra-region power struggle. Karua and Mr Kenneth are against a push by Uhuru camp’s push for ‘regional unity’. They see this as an inwardly directed ethnic card intended to force them to back down for Uhuru. Narc Kenya leader Karua says every candidate should rise or fall on merit alone.

She says Kenyatta and Kibaki were elected in their personal capacity, not for a tribe, clan or family. She read mischief into calls for leaders from the community to stay out of the race noting former President Moi’s presidency hasn’t evoked similar criticism against aspirants from Rift Valley.

Kenneth, who intends to run on a Kenya National Congress (KNC) ticket, says the Constitution does not bar anyone from vying on basis of tribal origin. “The issue of tribe should not arise as I will vie as a Kenyan, not a Kikuyu,” he says. “Track record and what the candidate stands for should be the key determinants.”

The Gatanga MP’s successful management of his Constituency Development Fund, ranked highly in successive years, is one of the pillars of his candidature.

Uhuru’s camp declined to comment saying doing so would lend legitimacy to the outrageous campaign. “Mr Kenyatta has not been and will never be a Kikuyu candidate,” said an aide who declined to be named, underscoring the contempt with which Uhuru’s camp views anyone propagating such strategy. “He will vie and compete according to the conditions set by the law. He has always been steadfast in refusing to be dragged into reinforcing a debate on a non-issue.”

The Gatundu South MP has in the past insisted his candidature shouldn’t be viewed in the narrow prism of tribe or his father’s tenure.

The chairman of the Central Kenya Parliamentary Group Ephraim Maina said it is wrong and dictatorial to ask people to give up their ambitions.

President of the African Policy Institute Prof Peter Kagwanja sees the affront as chiefly directed at Uhuru and Ruto who present credible oppositions because of their political shrewdness and financial muscle.

“From the day the ICC confirmed charges against Uhuru and Ruto, it became evident that having their names on the ballot paper was going to be a very steep and slippery climb,” says Kagwanja. “The two are wealthy, and potentially the only ones, together with the Prime Minister, capable of financing their own elections even before fundraising.”

Prof Kagwanja said an Uhuru-Ruto ticket is potentially a winning card, commanding about 25 counties in the Rift Valley to Central and Eastern Kenya.