19 May 2008
Nairobi — Seven Cabinet ministers Sunday spoke against the succession debate, which was kicked off last Friday in favour of Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka during his homecoming fete in Machakos.
They described it as going against the healing mood of the nation.
The emotive dabate also attracted the wrath of religious leaders, led by Catholic Church's head John Cardinal Njue and business people, who described it as immature, misplaced and unwarranted.
So determined were the politicians, that even VP Musyoka, whose endorsement by some ministers from Central Kenya to succeed President Kibaki come 2012, dismissed the debate as too early.
Playing down further calls by some MPs in Nyamira District, the VP said leaders should first give the grand coalition Government a chance to solve post-election-related problems, enact and implement wide-ranging reforms and put the economy on a recovery path.
Languishing
"I don't want early campaigns for the presidential race when several Kenyans are languishing in IDP camps, and others are staying with relatives with myriad problems. This is a time to serve wananchi (citizens), resettle those affected by the last general election chaos and to reconcile them with their aggressors," he said.
Mr Musyoka said the time for the campaigns was still far and the suggestion by Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi on Friday in Machakos; MPs Wilfred Ombui, Walter Nyambati, David Ngugi and Johstone Muthama, that he starts to focus on the 2012 elections was unwarranted.
"I don't know what the future holds for me. I cannot start drumming up support for State House when innocent people are suffering in camps and need us to resettle them. I urge you all to hold your horses since there was no power struggle between myself, the President and the Prime Minister after the formation of the grand coalition," he said.
He was addressing more than 1,500 internal refugees camping at Ekerenyo divisional headquarters in Nyamira District, enroute to the burial of Mr Momanyi Oseko.
Among those who spoke against the move to plunge the country into a heightened political atmosphere, were Deputy Prime Minister, Uhuru Kenyatta; Cabinet ministers Anyang Nyong'o, William Ruto, Charity Ngilu, Paul Otuoma, James Orengo and Fred Gumo.
Others included MPs Cyrus Jirongo, Musikari Kombo and Mithika Linturi, former minister Maina Kamanda, Cardinal Njue and Council of Imams and Preachers secretary-general Sheikh Mohammed.
Last Friday, Mr Murungi sparked the debate when he told thousands of people who turned up in Machakos during Mr Musyoka's homecoming party, that discussions to make the VP President Kibaki's heir, had started and the target was to bring together the Meru, Kikuyu and Kamba.
"We are in the process of looking for a 'bus' whose 'driver' is likely to be Kalonzo. We want to talk to Uhuru and (Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Martha) Karua to chart the way forward and ensure that the bus has a good driver," he said.
State House
The Imenti South MP spoke in the presence of Mr Kenyatta and Ms Karua, who are among those known to nurse State House ambitions .
Sunday, Government Chief Whip, George Thuo added that plans were under way to unite the Kikuyu community to rally behind the VP in the 2012 General Election and revealed that Mr Kenyatta had been persuaded to be Mr Musyoka's running mate.
"After uniting the community Uhuru Kenyatta will then be appointed GEMA national chairman and the community's spokesman," said the Juja MP.
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