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Why Ruto is courting Museveni and Kikwete
Published on 21/06/2011
By Moses Njagih Eldoret
North MP William Ruto wants to portray himself as credible presidential material to Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania.
Ruto led a strange mix of ministers and MPs to see the Ugandan leader at his Rwakitura farm in Mbarara where he keeps over 400 long-horned Ankole cattle.
Neither Museveni nor Kikwete committed their support to his cause, but advised the group to focus on reconciling the country.
An MP in the group said Ruto has asked Museveni to arrange for him to meet Kikwete and he agreed. The suspended Higher Education minister left the country with Ministers Ali Chirau Mwakwere and Samuel Poghisio on Thursday morning for Uganda, where they met President Museveni. They then moved to Tanzania the following day for a meeting with President Kikwete at State House, Dar es Salaam.
Ruto's team included former Speaker Francis ole Kaparo and MPs Eugene Wamalwa (Saboti), Aden Dualle (Dujis), Kazungu Kambi (Kaloleni) Mithika Linturi (Igembe South) and a former Rift Valley power broker in the Moi era, Mark Too. Museveni's courting of Kenyan politicians has gotten tongues wagging lately, with speculation that he is trying to see where the wind blows so as to decide whom to back in next year's race to succeed President Kibaki.
Kikwete was part of the mediating team that brought President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to the negotiating table in 2008, after post-election violence rocked the country and was there mainly to discuss regional politics.
The rivalry between Raila and Ruto has picked up lately with the latter appearing on a popular comedy show on television just a week after it had hosted the PM. It also comes as Raila moves to try and regain his following in the Rift Valley.
Insiders say Museveni is uncertain with the frontrunner status of the PM in the race to succeed Kibaki, as evidenced by successive opinion polls, despite recently hosting the PM as a State guest, and that Ruto is keen to exploit Museveni's indecision.
But other than Raila, Ruto also faces a legal hurdle in the form of the International Criminal Court (ICC) that hangs over his presidential plans. The ICC has accused him and five others of serious crimes against humanity, and a hearing to decide whether or not to confirm the charges is due on September 1.
An MP who travelled with the team said apart from attempting to portray himself as versed in regional politics, Ruto used the trip to try and convince the two presidents that he is a serious presidential contender with broad political support, hence his handpicked team.
Those who attended the two meetings have remained tight-lipped since returning to the country, but it has emerged among the issues discussed included the need for leaders in the region who can help citizens exploit available opportunities.
An MP who attended both meetings said Museveni and Kikwete listened to proposals from the group on how to strengthen the East African Community (EAC).
"They were both concerned about what is going to happen in 2012, and that is why they were very keen to know how political alliances are shaping up in the country," said the MP.
At the meeting with Museveni at the latter's Rwakitura farm, sources said Ruto gave details to the Ugandan leader on the status of his political relationship with Uhuru Kenyatta, Eugene Wamalwa and Kalonzo Musyoka.
It also emerged that Chirau Mwakere has since gained prominence in the Ruto camp after Tourism Minister Najib Balala was said to have reconciled with the PM.
On Sunday, Kazungu Kambi said they indeed met Museveni at his Rwakitura farm for three hours where they took lunch together before holding a closed-door meeting.
2012 elections
Although Kambi was tight-lipped about what transpired because of a general agreement by the attendants that what was discussed be kept private, The Standard learnt that the Ruto team told Museveni they were trying to knit together on a cohesive political group to fight Raila for the presidency next year.
Ruto and Eugene were in President Kibaki's team that attended Museveni's swearing in ceremony after his controversial re-election with a disputed 68 per cent majority.
Before leaving for Uganda, the MPs were kept waiting at Wilson Airport for two hours because the two Ministers had to make a presentation at the performance contract meeting.
Very early in the morning, Poghisio and Mwakere had gone through the formalities of seeking permission from the President to be out of the country.
At Entebbe, the group was received by the President's Chief of Protocol at Entebbe Airport and whisked to a waiting presidential helicopter that dropped them at President Museveni's Rwakitura farm.
"We found him waiting for us and then joined him in a grass thatched brick house designed like an African traditional hut for lunch, and then proceeded with the meeting from 3pm to 6pm, that is all I can tell you," said Kambi.
The MP who spoke to The Standard said Museveni delved into the complexities of Kenyan politics with the group, but did not make any personal commitment only promising to work with them in future and wished them well.
He asked the group to be self-reliant in pushing for their political goals and booked for them an appointment with President Kikwete, before they left Mbarara for an overnight stay in Kampala's Sheraton Hotel, at the courtesy of President Museveni.
Flight to Tanzania
The Kenyan delegation then left very early the following day in a Presidential motorcade to Entebbe Airport where they boarded the 14-seater -caravan they had chartered at Wilson Airport in Nairobi and left for Tanzania.
After a four-hour flight, they landed at Nyerere International Airport where President Kikwete's handlers took them to the VIP Lounge for tea.
They were then whisked by a presidential motorcade to State House, where they found Kikwete waiting.
"He came to the reception and said Karibuni, Karibuni and proceeded to greet each member of the delegations as Ruto introduced those he had never met," said an MP who appeared to be so elated about the trip.
According to the source, they then proceeded for a two-hour closed-door meeting with President Kikwete where the discussion centered on what they had with Museveni.
"Kikwete said Tanzania has a stake in what happens in Kenya because of the interests of the people of both of countries," said an MP who attended a meeting with President Kibaki in Nyanza
They left for the airport at around 5.30pm and flew to Moi International Airport where the MPs boarded a Kenya Airways flight at 8pm for Nairobi, because the chartered Caravan 5YFLX did not have a license to fly in Kenyan airspace at night.
When Ruto was in Uganda and Tanzania, Prime Minister Raila Odinga visited a village in his North Rift back yard to re-establish his support in the region.
On Sunday, Ruto also declined to discuss the meetings with Museveni and Kikwete, but said Raila was free to visit any part of the country. He also dismissed claims that Linturi had decamped to Raila's camp.
"We agreed with Linturi that he was to attend that function before Tinga [Raila] went to Meru, so it is no big deal," said Ruto.
The MP revealed that like-minded MPs will move together to UDM, which recently captured civic seats in Igoji and Kirimara because of Linturi's influence in the area.
He said his line-up in Meru includes Prof Kindiki Kithure, Dr Kanyithia Mutunga who is the Chief Executive Officer of Kenfap, M'Kareithi Peter of Tigania North and Faith Kawira (Imenti North) among others.
The suspended Agriculture Minister claimed his team has already established a network that will be a force to reckon with in the elections next year.
"The bond between me and Eugene Wamalwa is growing while Poghisio and Assistant Minister Athman Kamama are also with us, so we are a formidable team," said Ruto.
On Sunday Ruto said there is need for national sensitization and awareness campaign programme on East African Community integration process.
Ruto said Kenyans would benefit more from the East African Common Market Protocol and they should be educated on how to explore such trading opportunities.
"The East African Common Market Protocol is real and Kenyans need to take up the opportunities created to make more money," said Ruto.
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=2000037469&cid=4&ttl=Why
Published on 21/06/2011
By Moses Njagih Eldoret
North MP William Ruto wants to portray himself as credible presidential material to Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania.
Ruto led a strange mix of ministers and MPs to see the Ugandan leader at his Rwakitura farm in Mbarara where he keeps over 400 long-horned Ankole cattle.
Neither Museveni nor Kikwete committed their support to his cause, but advised the group to focus on reconciling the country.
An MP in the group said Ruto has asked Museveni to arrange for him to meet Kikwete and he agreed. The suspended Higher Education minister left the country with Ministers Ali Chirau Mwakwere and Samuel Poghisio on Thursday morning for Uganda, where they met President Museveni. They then moved to Tanzania the following day for a meeting with President Kikwete at State House, Dar es Salaam.
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| President Jakaya Kikwete (left) receives leader of Kenyan delegation, William Ruto, at State House, Dar es Salaam. The MPs had earlier met President Museveni of Uganda at his farm. Photo: Courtesy |
Ruto's team included former Speaker Francis ole Kaparo and MPs Eugene Wamalwa (Saboti), Aden Dualle (Dujis), Kazungu Kambi (Kaloleni) Mithika Linturi (Igembe South) and a former Rift Valley power broker in the Moi era, Mark Too. Museveni's courting of Kenyan politicians has gotten tongues wagging lately, with speculation that he is trying to see where the wind blows so as to decide whom to back in next year's race to succeed President Kibaki.
Kikwete was part of the mediating team that brought President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to the negotiating table in 2008, after post-election violence rocked the country and was there mainly to discuss regional politics.
The rivalry between Raila and Ruto has picked up lately with the latter appearing on a popular comedy show on television just a week after it had hosted the PM. It also comes as Raila moves to try and regain his following in the Rift Valley.
Insiders say Museveni is uncertain with the frontrunner status of the PM in the race to succeed Kibaki, as evidenced by successive opinion polls, despite recently hosting the PM as a State guest, and that Ruto is keen to exploit Museveni's indecision.
But other than Raila, Ruto also faces a legal hurdle in the form of the International Criminal Court (ICC) that hangs over his presidential plans. The ICC has accused him and five others of serious crimes against humanity, and a hearing to decide whether or not to confirm the charges is due on September 1.
An MP who travelled with the team said apart from attempting to portray himself as versed in regional politics, Ruto used the trip to try and convince the two presidents that he is a serious presidential contender with broad political support, hence his handpicked team.
Those who attended the two meetings have remained tight-lipped since returning to the country, but it has emerged among the issues discussed included the need for leaders in the region who can help citizens exploit available opportunities.
An MP who attended both meetings said Museveni and Kikwete listened to proposals from the group on how to strengthen the East African Community (EAC).
"They were both concerned about what is going to happen in 2012, and that is why they were very keen to know how political alliances are shaping up in the country," said the MP.
At the meeting with Museveni at the latter's Rwakitura farm, sources said Ruto gave details to the Ugandan leader on the status of his political relationship with Uhuru Kenyatta, Eugene Wamalwa and Kalonzo Musyoka.
It also emerged that Chirau Mwakere has since gained prominence in the Ruto camp after Tourism Minister Najib Balala was said to have reconciled with the PM.
On Sunday, Kazungu Kambi said they indeed met Museveni at his Rwakitura farm for three hours where they took lunch together before holding a closed-door meeting.
2012 elections
Although Kambi was tight-lipped about what transpired because of a general agreement by the attendants that what was discussed be kept private, The Standard learnt that the Ruto team told Museveni they were trying to knit together on a cohesive political group to fight Raila for the presidency next year.
Ruto and Eugene were in President Kibaki's team that attended Museveni's swearing in ceremony after his controversial re-election with a disputed 68 per cent majority.
Before leaving for Uganda, the MPs were kept waiting at Wilson Airport for two hours because the two Ministers had to make a presentation at the performance contract meeting.
Very early in the morning, Poghisio and Mwakere had gone through the formalities of seeking permission from the President to be out of the country.
At Entebbe, the group was received by the President's Chief of Protocol at Entebbe Airport and whisked to a waiting presidential helicopter that dropped them at President Museveni's Rwakitura farm.
"We found him waiting for us and then joined him in a grass thatched brick house designed like an African traditional hut for lunch, and then proceeded with the meeting from 3pm to 6pm, that is all I can tell you," said Kambi.
The MP who spoke to The Standard said Museveni delved into the complexities of Kenyan politics with the group, but did not make any personal commitment only promising to work with them in future and wished them well.
He asked the group to be self-reliant in pushing for their political goals and booked for them an appointment with President Kikwete, before they left Mbarara for an overnight stay in Kampala's Sheraton Hotel, at the courtesy of President Museveni.
Flight to Tanzania
The Kenyan delegation then left very early the following day in a Presidential motorcade to Entebbe Airport where they boarded the 14-seater -caravan they had chartered at Wilson Airport in Nairobi and left for Tanzania.
After a four-hour flight, they landed at Nyerere International Airport where President Kikwete's handlers took them to the VIP Lounge for tea.
They were then whisked by a presidential motorcade to State House, where they found Kikwete waiting.
"He came to the reception and said Karibuni, Karibuni and proceeded to greet each member of the delegations as Ruto introduced those he had never met," said an MP who appeared to be so elated about the trip.
According to the source, they then proceeded for a two-hour closed-door meeting with President Kikwete where the discussion centered on what they had with Museveni.
"Kikwete said Tanzania has a stake in what happens in Kenya because of the interests of the people of both of countries," said an MP who attended a meeting with President Kibaki in Nyanza
They left for the airport at around 5.30pm and flew to Moi International Airport where the MPs boarded a Kenya Airways flight at 8pm for Nairobi, because the chartered Caravan 5YFLX did not have a license to fly in Kenyan airspace at night.
When Ruto was in Uganda and Tanzania, Prime Minister Raila Odinga visited a village in his North Rift back yard to re-establish his support in the region.
On Sunday, Ruto also declined to discuss the meetings with Museveni and Kikwete, but said Raila was free to visit any part of the country. He also dismissed claims that Linturi had decamped to Raila's camp.
"We agreed with Linturi that he was to attend that function before Tinga [Raila] went to Meru, so it is no big deal," said Ruto.
The MP revealed that like-minded MPs will move together to UDM, which recently captured civic seats in Igoji and Kirimara because of Linturi's influence in the area.
He said his line-up in Meru includes Prof Kindiki Kithure, Dr Kanyithia Mutunga who is the Chief Executive Officer of Kenfap, M'Kareithi Peter of Tigania North and Faith Kawira (Imenti North) among others.
The suspended Agriculture Minister claimed his team has already established a network that will be a force to reckon with in the elections next year.
"The bond between me and Eugene Wamalwa is growing while Poghisio and Assistant Minister Athman Kamama are also with us, so we are a formidable team," said Ruto.
On Sunday Ruto said there is need for national sensitization and awareness campaign programme on East African Community integration process.
Ruto said Kenyans would benefit more from the East African Common Market Protocol and they should be educated on how to explore such trading opportunities.
"The East African Common Market Protocol is real and Kenyans need to take up the opportunities created to make more money," said Ruto.
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=2000037469&cid=4&ttl=Why
| Concern raised as JK plays hosts Kenya ICC suspect | Send to a friend |
| Sunday, 26 June 2011 12:43 |
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The Citizen reporter Dar es Salaam. Kenya's suspended Higher Education minister and International Criminal Court (ICC)'s suspect William Ruto's secret arrival and meeting with President Jakaya Kikwete in Dar es Salaam last week has raised eyebrows and drawn mixed reactions from a section of country's political pundits. According to one of Kenya's newspapers, the Eldoret North MP who was accompanied by ministers Chirau Ali Mwakwere (Trade), Samuel Poghisio (Information) and other officials in his trip met President Kikwete shortly before he left for his recent tour of Seychelles ad Malaysia. The embattled politician had a day earlier met with Ugandan leader Yoweri Museveni at his Rwakitura Farm in Mbarara. It was reported that Museveni arranged for Mr Ruto to see Mr Kikwete. Mr Museveni has been accused in the past as openly taking sides in Kenyan politics. An MP who travelled with the team said that apart from attempting to portray himself as versed in regional politics, Ruto used the trip to try and convince the two presidents that he was a serious presidential contender with broad political support for Kenya's general elections next year. Mr Ruto who has fallen out with Prime Minister Raila Odinga in the Orange Democratic Party (ODM) is however facing a legal hurdle at the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Hague that hangs over his presidential plans. Together with five others, including Kenya's Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta, he is accused of serious crimes against humanity rising from the 2007 election violence. A hearing to determine whether or not to confirm the charges is due on September 1. According to a source, Mr Kikwete and Mr Ruto had a two-hour closed-door meeting at state house. The deputy press secretary with the Directorate of Presidential Communications, Ms Premi Kibanga, confirmed to The Citizen on Sunday that indeed there was a meeting between Mr Kikwete and the Kenyan politician. "Yes he (Ruto) held talks with the President, but I'm not in a position to tell you whether the visit was official or personal," said Ms Kibanga. But sources from Mr Ruto's entourage said the duo delved into ties between the two neighboring countries. "Mr Kikwete said Tanzania had a stake in what happens in Kenya because of the interests of the people of both countries," one of the MPs in the delegation was quoted as saying. Reacting to the emerging reports, the chairman of the Tanzania Centre for Democracy (TCD), Prof Ibrahim Lipumba, said it was wrong for Mr Kikwete to delve into another country's politics, especially with a person who no longer had a ministerial post. "It would have been okay if Kikwete was not the President; but mind you he is a sitting president meeting someone with a criminal case at The Hague," he noted. Prof Lipumba, who is also the Civic United Front party's chairman, said such a move could water down the cordial political relationship between the two countries, as Mr Kikwete would be thought to be on Ruto's side by other presidential aspirants in Kenya. "This is not proper at all… The likes of Raila (Odinga) won't be happy about this… It should not be happening now…It might infuriate other aspirants," said the politician. Prof Lipumba also referred to Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade who supported Alassane Ouattara during his standoff with former president Laurent Gbagbo which angered the latter's supporters. However, for his part, Dr Sengondo Mvungi, a politician affiliated with NCCR-Mageuzi asserted that it would not be easy for Mr Ruto to achieve his goals, even through seeking Kikwete's support. Dr Mvungi also came hard on President Kikwete for hosting Mr Ruto who is facing charges at the ICC. "We are entering regional politics and such a move is not healthy for the EAC bloc… Our president should not side with any group in the neighboring country as they near their General Election," he said, warning that Kenya was more of a tribal country and that it was not wise to delve into its politics. Another political analyst, Mr Bashiru Ally, dared State House to tell Tanzanians the real reasons behind Mr Ruto's visit and why it was not reported to the media as would be the case. The lecturer said he saw no point in President Kikwete offering ‘political consultancy' to Mr Ruto. "Our neighbours are at a defining moment in their country's history… They have a new constitution…We ought to just emulate only the good that they have done," he said. Like the rest of the commentators, Mr Ally is opposed to Mr Kikwete's meeting with the former Higher Education minister on grounds that he was not a holder of any public post, and had a case to answer at the ICC. Dr Azaveli Lwaitama, also from the University of Dar es Salaam, opined that Ruto came to seek President Kikwete's support to have his charges dropped at The Hague court. Dr Lwaitama ruled out the possibility of Ruto's coming to seek backing as he braces for his first try on the race for the presidency in his country. "He (Ruto) wants his name expunged from Ocampo's list… after all, of what importance would he be to Museveni and Kikwete?" he queried. The vocal analyst also faulted Mr Kikwete's decision to host the Kenyan politician at State House. "It is very wrong for him to do that, especially considering that he is a sitting president… It could have an effect on our relationship with Kenyans," he noted. But the Research and Education for Democracy in Tanzania (Redet) co-chairman, Dr Benson Bana, saw nothing wrong with President Kikwete's date with Mr Ruto. He was of the opinion that Mr Ruto was a public figure back in his country with the freedom of meeting whoever he wanted. "Let him explore such opportunities… since our president is good at giving advice, he was just offering political consultancy to Ruto," he said. According to Dr Bana, some EAC regulations would not allow a sitting president to venture into another country's politics. However, he noted that it was okay for the Head of State to host people in their "individual capacities." President Kikwete was part of the mediating team that brought President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to the negotiating table in 2008, after the post-election violence that rocked the country. The mediation led to the establishment of the coalition government whose term ends with next year's elections. http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/sunday-citizen/-/12269-concern-raised-as-jk-plays-hosts-kenya-icc-suspect |
