13 August 2007
Nairobi — A three-horse race in the battle for the presidency started taking shape at the weekend after three top contenders left no doubt they would be running.
The utterances of Mr Raila Odinga and Mr Kalonzo Musyoka reinforced the fact that they are irreconcilable and confirmed they would both have their names on the ballot paper, while President Kibaki made the announcement in what has become vintage style.
And, former Vice-President Mr Musalia Mudavadi - who together with Eldoret North MP Mr William Ruto, have lately been seen as allied to Raila - also send the message that Orange's latest power-sharing plan is not binding yet.
Speaking after a morning church service in Nairobi on Sumday, Kibaki said Kenyans gave him the mandate to run the country and that he would do so for two terms.
"Juzi niliambia mtu mmoja hii kazi ni nyinyi wananchi mmenipea hatutakaa milele, tutakaa tu two terms (Recently I told someone that it is you Kenyans that gave me this job, and I will not stay in it forever. I will only serve for two terms)," the Head of State told a gathering outside the AIC Milimani Church, Nairobi.
"Hiyo kazi msiwe na wasi wasi nayo, hiyo tutaendeleza (Do not worry; we shall carry on with the work)," Kibaki said. The President added: "Hiyo mpango ni mzuri na baada ya two terms, mimi nitaondoka (That arrangement is good and after the two terms, I will leave)". Kibaki spoke as ODM-Kenya's fiercest rivals for the party presidential ticket made it known, ahead of a crucial party National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Tuesday, that one of them will pave the way for the other in the Orange party.
You cannot stop River Nile
To demonstrate just how irreconcilable their differences have become, the Kalonzo camp announced on Sunday it would skip the meeting at Orange House, a day after the Mwingi North MP restated his determination not to play second fiddle to anyone in his quest for the top job.
"I see nothing stopping me from running. My struggle will end in the ballot box. I believe Kenyans will give me an opportunity to lead the nation," Kalonzo, asserted.
"My grand march to State House is not a false hope. I have embarked on a revitalisation campaign strategy to emerge the most acceptable candidate in ODM-Kenya," he added.
But Raila, speaking to The Standard, declared his determination to run for the presidency. The Lang'ata MP also said the battle over the control of ODM-Kenya would be resolved at the NEC meeting.
Said he: "I'm running for the presidency and that is a concluded affair. You cannot stop River Nile from flowing to the Mediterranean Sea. The party does not belong to (Mr Daniel) Maanzo, it is the peoples' property." Maanzo, a Nairobi lawyer and chief ally of Kalonzo, is battling to retain control of the Orange party and has even moved to court to block a change of leadership that is expected to usher in Tinderet MP Mr Henry Kosgey, Kisumu Rural MP Prof Anyang' Nyong'o and South Mugirango MP Mr Omingo Magara as chairman, secretary-general and treasurer respectively.
The Kalonzo camp considers the three as Raila's poodles.
Kalonzo said he has tested the waters and found out that he would beat Kibaki and Raila in the General Election, signalling how far apart the two ODM-Kenya giants have drifted.
Kalonzo seeking Kamba nod
Instead of being at Orange House on Tuesday, Kalonzo has organised a major meeting in Machakos for leaders from the Kamba community to discuss his political destiny, even as he maintained that he was still in ODM-Kenya and had no plans to move out.
But another aspirant, Dr Julia Ojiambo, who is working closely with Kalonzo, said: "I have been invited to the NEC meeting and I will be attending it to resolve our internal matters".
Kalonzo explained his ditching of the Liberal Democratic Party a few weeks ago.
"I left LDP to join Labour Party of Kenya after realising that Raila's team was hatching a hate and witch-hunt campaign against me".
At the same time, Kosgey announced that the party would pick its candidate at the end of this month.
"We will decide how the delegates will be picked on Tuesday (tomorrow) but they will be in Nairobi most likely on August 31 to nominate the candidate.
"Let wananchi decide who will be the presidential candidate. We will not allow leaders to be chosen through boardroom meetings," said Kosgey, and warned the Independence party Kanu against lone-ranger tactics saying it would not make it alone in the General Election.
He added: "I have not gone out to campaign for Raila but wherever I go, I find Kenyans supporting him and I respect their choice. If Kenyans have decided on a leader who can bring meaningful reforms, then their verdict should be respected."
Kosgey said he respected the support Raila commanded in Nandi and dismissed the other leaders as "non-reformists who would maintain the status quo".
Yesterday, Mudavadi dismissed reports of a power-sharing deal. "We have not made power-sharing arrangements and those bandying the idea around are only speculating".
The reports told of a pact between Raila, Mudavadi, Ruto and Health minister Mrs Charity Ngilu. In the deal, Raila would be given the presidential ticket, Mudavadi, the first vice president, Ngilu the second vice president and Ruto the post of prime minister.
Speaking in Kericho District, Mudavadi said as far as he was concerned, none of the presidential hopefuls had stepped down from the race in favour of another candidate.
He added: "Be it consensus or the delegates system, Kenyans should rest assured that the ODM-Kenya's flag bearer would be picked by the second week of September.
Kibaki in new alliance
Kibaki spoke as two of his staunchest allies, hosted by Keiyo South MP Mr Nicholas Biwott and Kapenguria MP Mr Samuel Moroto, tried to make political in-roads into the expansive North Rift, which is perceived as an ODM-Kenya's stronghold.
More signs of alliances sympathetic to the Kibaki cause were also being witnessed down at the Coast on Saturday ahead of another momentous week in politics. Transport minister Mr Chirau Mwakwere, his Cabinet colleague Mr Morris Dzoro and the influential Sheikh Juma Ngao led elements of the Shirikisho Party of Kenya in a meeting with ageing Kanu stalwart, Mr Robert Matano .
But on Sunday, over 500 SPK grassroots leaders sharply differed with MPs over whether to field a presidential candidate or endorse President Kibaki.
The group of MPs, who ditched Narc-Kenya for SPK, insisted the party backs President Kibaki's re-election, while the elders and founder members demanded that the party field its own.
Dzoro appealed to ODM-Kenya presidential hopeful and Mvita MP Mr Najib Balala and Narc-Kenya national vice-chairman Mr Suleiman Shakombo to join Shirikisho.
Reports by Samuel Otieno, Ayub Savula, Paul Mutua, Biketi Kikechi, Vitalis Kimutai and Patrick Beja
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