Jitters in Rift Valley as Ruto downplays calls to contest against Uhuru in 2017

Deputy President William Ruto’s repeated proclamations that he will support Uhuru Kenyatta’s presidential re-election bid in 2017 seems to be falling on deaf years in his backyard, with some members of his United Republican Party (URP) insisting that he should partner with others and challenge the Jubilee leader.

Although MPs Elijah Lagat of Emgwen, Zakayo Cheruiyot of Kuresoi and Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter have in the past been accused of being out of sync with URP’s aspirations, they have not lost an opportunity to impress upon the DP that their counterparts in the Jubilee Alliance, The National Alliance Party (TNA) members, may not support Ruto’s bid in 2022 even though they had pledged that they would.

Mr Keter has been the most vocal and says there is no guarantee that the Rift Valley electorate will back Jubilee in 2017 and points out that coalitions are not permanent.

“We will assess and analyse the performance of Jubilee between 2013 and 2017 in terms of our economic interests and decide whether to support it or seek other options,” Keter said.

“We are in Jubilee because of the economic interests of members of URP and TNA. If we are not satisfied, we can seek other partners,” he added.

Kuresoi legislator Cheruiyot says the welfare of local people may determine the future direction.  “Who knows what the future has in store? I wish him well in his ambition. All I care for is the state of the economy, which is in a shambles in South Rift,” Cheruiyot told The Standard on Sunday

According to reports, which the DP has since dismissed, some URP leaders have already identified a top ODM official to be Ruto’s running mate in 2017.

Although the proponents of Ruto’s 2017 bid have been canvassing for support behind the scenes, the DP has dismissed the idea out of hand and taken every opportunity to make it known that he will back Uhuru in 2017.

In his recent tours of the Rift Valley region where he has immense political influence, the DP has told his supporters that he will  not make the mistakes his rivals made by backing the wrong horse.

In one meeting, Ruto told residents of Nandi County that former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Musalia Mudavadi and Martha Karua were out in the cold because they chose to challenge Uhuru. “I will not make the mistake which Mudavadi, Odinga and Karua made.”

Political cold

Ruto continued: “Today, Mudavadi is in the political cold because of listening to leaders who misled him to believe  that he could beat Uhuru. Karua is also out of Parliament because she was misled and ran against Kenyatta who enjoys massive support among voters in Kenya.” Pundits say Ruto’s fresh tours in the Rift Valley are designed to consolidate his support in the region.

 “Ruto is a seasoned politician and has learned useful lessons over time,” says Prof Macharia Munene, a scholar and a commentator on political events.

But Kanu Secretary General Nick Salat says the DP is only keen on  trying to hold on to the Kalenjin vote.

He says the community will not be forced to take a position on who to back. Salat says during the 2013 polls the community voted for URP and the Jubilee Alliance because the Deputy President was an accused person at The Hague alongside Uhuru.

“The community therefore is not a beneficiary. The mistake will not be repeated come the next election” he added.

The DP told his supporters that he would wait until 2022 when Kenyatta’s term expires before he throws his hat in the ring for the presidency.

“I will not abandon President Kenyatta but will work under him until his term ends in 2022,” Ruto said. In a bid to erase lingering doubts about his 2017 plans, the DP has asked residents to join the Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) amid growing resistance by leaders opposed to plans to have them dissolve their parties and join the new outfit.

In his five-day tour of the region recently, Ruto’s message has been clear: “Join JAP ahead of the 2017 elections and avoid political parties which will consign you to the opposition.”

Analysts say Ruto appears set to stamp out a rebellion witnessed in his backyard earlier this year with Jubilee seeming to have been emboldened by the recent visit by US President Barack Obama.

Addressing political rallies in Baringo South and Baringo North, Ruto declared yet again that he would support Uhuru in 2017. The DP, who also addressed rallies in Turkana South, Nasokoru and Aldai, used the opportunity to state that he was ready to take over after Uhuru in 2022. In recent weeks, some Central Kenya MPs have come out to reassure the DP’s supporters that  Ruto will have their support in 2022.

MPs Ferdinand Waititu and Rachel Shebesh told rallies in Uasin Gishu that the Mt Kenya region owes the Deputy President. Waititu, who is the first MP to be elected on a JAP ticket, said: “Our future is in JAP and we will use it to re-elect Uhuru in 2017 and Ruto will be our President in 2022.”

Waititu said: “Uhuru Kenyatta is president because of Ruto’s support and as a way of showing our gratitude to him, we must return the favour and back his State House bid when that time comes.”

At Ngeria Secondary School in Uasin Gishu County, Ruto said: “We want a united government under JAP. In 2017, it will not be URP or TNA or other small parties but we will all be in JAP and vote for Uhuru Kenyatta in large numbers,” said Ruto.

Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen told Ruto: “Do not listen to those who are bent at bringing divisions between you and the President because with time your ambition will be fulfilled.”

­—Additional reporting by Titus Too