Sent by Gordon Teti
NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 28 – The United States government appears to prefer Uhuru Kenyatta to Raila Odinga as the next President of Kenya after Mwai Kibaki retires, it emerged on Monday.
Diplomatic cables released by whistle blowing website Wikileaks indicate that US Ambassador Michael Ranneberger wrote to his superiors in 2009 saying Mr Kenyatta’s ambition should be supported as it could be helpful in pushing the reform process forward.
“Kenyatta may be encouraged to attempt a presidential run due to shifting political dynamics that make potential challengers seem weak. Interestingly, Kenyatta seems to appreciate the need to be seen as pro-reform, and we should encourage him to push for action on key reform issues,” the confidential cable by Mr Ranneberger states.
However the ambassador seems to have no kind words for Prime Minister Raila Odinga in the June 2009 cable in which he says that the Prime Minister “is unable or unwilling to move forward the reform agenda.”
He also says that Mr Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) seems both directionless and less united than before.
“Odinga is increasingly perceived as feckless, unable or unwilling to govern effectively and move forward the reform agenda. There is growing disillusionment within his camp (as conveyed by key interlocutors of Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement, ODM, party to the ambassador,” the cable reveals.
The ambassador told his bosses in Washington that Mr Kenyatta had revealed his intention to push for police reforms and also changes in the office of the Attorney General.
Mr Kenyatta, according to the cables, was privately pushing President Kibaki to implement reforms.
“During a recent conversation with the ambassador, Kenyatta claimed that he is privately pushing Kibaki to carry out key reforms, particularly with respect to the police and Judiciary. It seems possible that given the clear public frustration with the slow pace of reform and our stated concerns – Kenyatta appreciates the need for him, KANU, and PNU to be seen as more pro-reform,” the cable states.
“He claimed to the ambassador that he is urging removal of Police Commissioner (Maj Gen Mohammed Hussein) Ali and Attorney General (Amos) Wako.”
In his assessment of Mr Kenyatta’s presidential ambition the envoy sees his elevation to the Finance Ministry portfolio as an endorsement by President Kibaki.
“His appointment as Finance Minister was seen by many as an implicit endorsement by Kibaki; it provides a powerful platform for Kenyatta to pursue presidential ambitions,” Mr Ranneberger tells his bosses.
The envoy also hailed Mr Kenyatta’s 2009 Budget and said the Finance Minister was using CDF Funds to cement support of MPs who are influential on its use.
On the alliance between Mr Kenyatta and suspended Cabinet Minister William Ruto, the cable states that Mr Ruto has made a number of private visits to State House and he is in close contact with Mr Kenyatta.
The ambassador sees the cooperation between the two as meant to promote the welfare of their respective ethnic communities in Central and Rift Valley “in order to avoid a repeat of what happened last year (2008) during the post-election violence.”
He says that tentative, behind the scenes cooperation between Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto is focused on a deal whereby the latter uses his influence among Kalenjins to facilitate the reintegration of the Kikuyu internally displaced persons in Rift Valley.
“In return, Ruto would get a significant share of important economic positions for his Kalenjin political allies. What is particularly problematic in a potential Kenyatta-Ruto alliance is who would get top billing on the presidential ticket, but there is some sense that Ruto might accept the position of vice president or prime minister, and thus prepare the ground for a presidential run in 2017.(Ruto is in his 40s.).”
Mr Ranneberger however cautions: “Rightly in our view, believe that attempting to have another Kikuyu succeed Kibaki is a recipe for serious instability perhaps for a meltdown much more severe than that experienced last year. While some sort of arrangement could emerge between the Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities, this seems a distant prospect given what happened last year. (Importantly Moi, rather than Ruto, is still seen as the head of the Kalenjin community and there is bad blood between those two. If Moi supports Kenyatta, Ruto could decide to stay with Odinga, which would mean a split of the Kalenjin vote.)”
In the cable Mr Ranneberger describes the Deputy Prime Minister as being far ahead of all other potential candidates from Central Kenya.
“Kenyatta is slowly but steadily emerging as the most likely potential presidential designee of the Kikuyus.”
Other contenders are not gaining traction. Minister of Security (Prof George) Saitoti is considered too old and not charismatic. Kikuyu dissident Martha Karua, the former Minister of Justice and head of the NARC-K party within the PNU, has not gained wide support in the Kikuyu Central Province.
Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka is however seen as a potential standard-bearer if at the end of the day the Kikuyus decide that they should not field their own candidate.
“However, that would be seen as a Kikuyu-Kamba condominium, which might well be worse than a straight-out bid by Kenyatta if he can get crucial support from the Kalenjin community,” Mr Ranneberger concludes.
Read more: http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/Kenyanews/WikiLeaks-says-US-favours-Uhuru-over-Raila.html#sucess#ixzz1FHwvyHYt
2006 WIKILEAKS : JOHN MICHUKI PROUDLY TELLS THE US AMBASSADOR OF PLANS TO ASSASSINATE RAILA AMOLO ODINGA
He says , I quote ”Raila presidency would last only for a few months because of the tradition of assassinations in this country.”
Read Wikileaks in the Star 28th February and 1st March 2011. When John Michuki talks we clearly see that the Kikuyu still proudly think that Kenyans love them because they are assassins!
Why cannot our august house vote this ”rattlesnake minister” out of the cabinet? Does the parliament have to wait until we are assassinated?
DR. ODIDA OKUTHE.
The trigger happy Mr Kimendero [Michuki] whose background explains million of questions dating back to his colonial days could be approaching the age of being a senile.Intelligence leader cannot speak to a foreigner about such hidden heinous plans about who should be assassinated next etc. It shows how proud are the Kikuyu leaders of their past bloody murderer regimes. We can do nothing about it,but only offer them prayers so that they could change their hearts and become true christians who respect the sancitity of human lives. I believe and trust that not all Kikuyu christians and muslims think like Michuki.After all they our brothers and sisters therefore if one of them is proud of the community having been perfected to acts of blood letting let them be forgiven.
Unless the much hihlighted Wikileaks reports are faked by some cunning and clever people here at home with vested interests,but Michuki is silent and has not reacted otherwise, so we take his word for for true way how the senior Kikuyu leaders are thnking about leaders from other communities in this country and as such are not interested fortheir community to be cohesive,
Arrum-Tidi Ogonglo
Yes, I was wondering who made “assassination ” plot in Wikileak. some how I missed the name…thank you for sharing the source of this statement with us. Again, if anybody doubt the length by which the KKK Cabal/Syndicate will go to shut down the PM…please, get your answers from Wikileak!!!!!
The world will never see us serious if we don’t claim our stolen victory with one voice.We must make unworkeable stuation for any further election untill the victor 2008 is sworn in and complete his term according to the law of the land.
This is because the state is sponsoring icc assassin and thugs to make our choice small and silly!Raila is our captain point blanc and nobody can make him dirty!
You must not be afraid kenya can go Libya at any time from now!
Enyi wajaluo wajinga,mtaerevuka lini?Raila is a spineless,gutless piece of shit,he is a faggot who should never even lead a family!!Uhuru is the same..kama hamuwezi kutoa mjaluo mwingine..poleni sana kwa sababu the closest raila was ever to statehouse was 2007,kwani tuju au ochuodho hawatoshi?itakuwaje anawa ambia mpigie muhindi kura mtoe mjaluo mwenzenyu na mnapiga tu?kijana wake analanguza madawa ya kulevya na mkewe anauza mahindi na yeye ameiba kampuni ya stima nanyi mnamuona kama mungu wenyu!raila na kibaki na wote walio zunguka hawa wawili wanafaa kufurushwa kenya..ndio wanaofaa kuwa hague!im ready to vote for anyother jaluo but raila..he has nothing to offer and his understanding of government is his stupid remarks.kama raila ndio ataongoza kenya,poleni kuwambia..afadhali kenya iishe,nanyi muishi mkijua sisi wakikuyu na kabila zingine zote tutafanya kila kitu ikiwemo kuwafukuza kenya raila na psycophants wake..mkiona kibaki mwambie ata angamia na panga ya mungiki aliyowafungulia nyinyi naivasha!
Am suprice my fellow Kenyans lets not be use by politicians n at Kamau i like your school of thought its high time Luos should look for a new brand leaders,and supporting Uhuru or Ruto for next election have alot of doubt about that, kindly kenyans lets look for leaders who will lead with intergrity, transparency and God fearing, some one like Peter Keneth, Raphael Tuju, martha Karua,Mohamed helsi,Ochuodho,Charity ngilu. and lets not divide ourselve we are one and THERE IS NOTHING FOR US WITHOUT US lets love one another and preach peace because in GOD’s eye we are one , no Mjaluo, Mkikuyu, Mjikenda, Mbaluya, and for us to continue talking the way we are doing we are just making things worst for todays generation and the generations to come one thing we should know is that our limited perspectives,our hope and fears become our measure of life, and when circumstances dont fit our ideas, they become our difficulties. ‘Kenya Moja Upendo itawale’ one nation, one people, one tribe, lets unite together.MAY GOD BLESS KENYA