By STEPHEN MAKABILA and ISAAC ONGIRI
Powerful individuals close to State House are believed to be behind some of the rifts emerging within the informal G7 political alliance.
The kingmakers seeking to shape the outcome of the General Election are making themselves felt within the ranks of the PNU side of the coalition. Their aim is to prevent the rise of a leader or group that owes them nothing politically.
Although President Kibaki Friday said he will not endorse? a successor, evidence has emerged of a plan among some of his allies to control the G7 alliance so as to ultimately have a candidate of their preference. It is this thinking that has led to concern over the apparent favoured status extended to United Democratic Forum leader Musalia Mudavadi by the State elite.
Mr Mudavadi is not part of the G7, but has hinted at a working relationship with fellow Deputy PM Uhuru Kenyatta and, to some extent, Eldoret North MP William Ruto, to the annoyance of Western rival Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa.
He says leaving the Local Government docket after quitting ODM has freed him up for other duties, including deputising the President more, into which too much is being read.
However, political observers see a direct connection between the recent changes and friction in the alliance. The Standard On Saturday has established the emerging scenario is causing both excitement and discomfort within the alliance.
Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo cautioned Mr Mudavadi, Mr Ruto and Mr Wamalwa they were all being hoodwinked by central Kenya political elite.
“Mudavadi, Wamalwa and Ruto are all being manipulated by a political elite determined to retain power, with money as their greatest weapon,” said Jirongo, hinting at the rumours of Musalia being a State House ‘project’. Mr Jirongo says he is planning to talk Ruto and Wamalwa out of the G7 to form a Rift-Valley/Western alliance.
The Lugari MP, whose adventure in Ruto’s United Republican Party (URP) turned sour with the apparent endorsement of Chirau Mwakwere as a potential running mate, claims there are forces in central Kenya that do not want any united voting bloc outside the region.
These are the people he blames for fuelling the differences between Mudavadi and Wamalwa, as well as those between him and Ruto. They allegedly want to maintain the splits so they can help secure a victory by delivering the central vote.
Mandera Central MP Abdikadir Mohamed, a UDF member, warned against the “narrow mindedness” with which Mudavadi’s candidature was being viewed.
“It is shocking to see how some people are looking at it. My concern is how we can fight ethnicity and build a united nation after the coming elections,” the MP said.
On Thursday, Mudavadi dismissed claims he was President Kibaki’s project, or that he was out to frustrate Wamalwa.
The Sabatia MP insisted he respects his Saboti counterpart and will be talking with him soon about a political deal. Close associates of Wamalwa, say they had come to the realisation their man has to adjust to recent political changes.
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“After watching what has been happening, we have come to some conclusion that Wamalwa has to review his political game plan,” said one source close to the minister.
Wamalwa, Uhuru, Ruto and Vice-President (VP) Kalonzo Musyoka make up the G7, which Mudavadi has also been gravitating to since bolting out of ODM to join UDF.
Speaking at the Standard Group Centre on Thursday afternoon, Kalonzo indicated he was still firmly in G7, and that as the most senior politician, he expects other alliance members to support him for the presidency.
He played down the importance of a meeting he had with Wamalwa as well as that of Mudavadi’s apparently higher profile as routine.
On Thursday, Mudavadi’s handlers dispatched media alerts indicating the Deputy PM was to represent President Kibaki at this year’s World Accreditation Day.
This came hot on the heels of the decision to have him welcome Kibaki to the podium on Madaraka Day.
“In the absence of the PM and the VP, Mudavadi was preferred over Uhuru to invite Kibaki to address Madaraka Day celebrations,” said a source close to one of the G7 members.
“On Thursday, Mudavadi was also preferred over Uhuru to represent him at the KICC, this is a loaded statement.” The source went on: “It was instructive that Mudavadi was being welcomed at KICC by Assistant Minister Nderitu Muriithi, Kibaki’s nephew, not Minister Amason Kingi.” It is understood Mudavadi had visited State House days before the Madaraka fete, and was flown in a military chopper to Bungoma, where he addressed another rally. Mudavadi, who is the UDF presidential hopeful, dismissed allegations that he is being fronted by President Kibaki as propaganda.
“When I meet and talk to other leaders, it is because they are my friends and it is in the interest of the unity of Kenyans,” he sought to clarify. Responding to speculation in the media he denied any significant changes in his status adding that meetings with other presidential contenders should not be misinterpreted to mean he is their project.
On Friday, Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni, who is associated with Mudavadi’s UDF, said the Deputy PM’s association with State House is not unusual given his position.
“Mudavadi has been going to State House even before. There is no special treatment he is being given. He is only doing his work,” Kioni said.
The Ndaragwa MP also dismissed talk of a scheme to scuttle the G7, which he said was an amorphous organisation created by the Press.
“This G7 alliance is something that does not exist. We have heard Ruto and Kalonzo talk about it, but there is nothing like G7. Even Uhuru (Kenyatta) has never mentioned it by name,” Kioni claimed.
The entry of Mudavadi into the equation has changed things for G7 players like Kalonzo and Wamalwa, who would have been expected to benefit if Uhuru and Ruto, who face trial at the International Criminal Court, are locked out of the coming elections.
Sidelined
Close associates of Kibaki appear to have switched camp to Mudavadi after he joined UDF, a party allegedly conceived by his Private Secretary Nick Wanjohi. Kibaki’s nephew Assistant minister Nderitu Muriithi and the renown Othaya politician Mary Wambui are closely linked to the party. On Thursday, Kalonzo, the President’s principle assistant who many fear is being sidelined said he was still in the G7 alliance but insisted he was the most senior and therefore expected support from his “junior” colleagues.
“As far as I am concerned there will be no dirty tricks in G7. I am fed up with politics in which you cannot trust anyone. You agree on one thing today and tomorrow they are cutting corners. I am not into that kind of thing,” he said.
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