BY FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ

NAIROBI-KENYA

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012

When Kakamega Catholic Diocese, Bishop Philip Sulumeti read from the Pastoral Letter of the Catholic Bishops of Kenya on May 3, 2012 that the Catholic Church in Kenya back Deputy Prime minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto to run for presidency in the coming General Election despite facing criminal charges at the International Criminal Court, a pub in Karen where people were watching news turned rowdy.
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Some people matched out saying Kenyans will not allow bishops to mislead them again. The bishops were saying that the two were eligible for the office unless it was “proved beyond any reasonable doubt that they were guilty. To some people this is sending signal to Kenyans that bishops have taken side to support some candidates of their choices politically.

The argument of some of these people was genuine-for if cabinet ministers are relieved from their ministries until investigations were done to prove whether what they have been accused of is true or not, why does the same procedure apply to Uhuru and Ruto? They can only stand for any public post after they have been proven innocent.

The issue here is not whether they are guilty or not, the issue is that since they are facing criminal charges is reason enough for them not to run for presidency. This is the concern of the vast majority of Kenyans and that is why people were mad when the bishop read the letter.

Bishops are not alone in this mission. Of late president Kibaki has become under increasing pressure to endorse Uhuru Kenyatta as his successor. Those pushing for the endorsement argue that Uhuru is the best candidate because his family has the financial muscle to mount a serious presidential challenge.

Uhuru Kenyatta is the son of Kenya’s first president, Jomo Kenyatta, and heir to some of the largest land holdings in Kenya. He owns at least 500,000 acres of prime land spread across the country.

The land was acquired by his father in the 1960s and 1970s when the British colonial government and the World Bank funded a settlement transfer fund scheme that enabled government officials and wealthy Kenyans to acquire land from the British at very low prices.

Uhuru and his family also own Brookside Dairies, Kenya’s largest dairy company, as well as stakes in popular television station K24 and a commercial bank in Nairobi, among other interests.

Given the background that like some corrupt politicians, some church leaders would prefer one of the two than Dr Prime Minister Raila Odinga for fear that he may reposes the stolen public properties, including land of which some churches are also involved. They would rather support Muslia Mudavadi because he is easy to tame given that he is also been mentioned in some corruption deals.

That explains why Mudavadi has joined the United Democratic Front Party (UDFP) a new political party promoted by youthful MPs and close allies of Uhuru Kenyatta.

Formerly this party was to enable Uhuru to go it alone in the 2013 presidential race without the support of Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka or Internal Security minister Prof George Saitoti. This has turned to be for Mudavadi after Uhuru and Ruto have sensed that they may not run.

In September meeting by 50 MPs allied to Uhuru resolved that UDFP should choose its presidential candidate in February after the party recruits and elects new national officials, according to informed sources by the Star.

Those present at September meeting included Emilio Kathuri (Manyatta), Peter Munya (Tigania East), Raphael Letimalo (Samburu East), Jamleck Kamau (Kigumo), Mohammed Kuti (Isiolo), Joseph Lekuton (Laisamis), and Robert Monda (Nyaribare Chache).

Other MPs linked to the new party include Abdikadir Mohammed (Mandera Central), George Nyamweya (nominated), Ndiritu Muriithi (Laikipia West), Lewis Nguyai (Kikuyu), Lee Kinyanjui (Nakuru Town), Njoroge Baiya (Githunguri), Maison Leshoomo (nominated), Njeru Githae (Ndia), Joseph Gitari (Kirinyaga Central) and Lena Jebii Kilimo (Marakwet East).

Unlike the Catholic bishops, the two have privately accepted that the charges they are facing at the ICC will prevent them from standing, even if they speak differently at their prayer rallies.

Even though the bishops are backing them, the ethics rules of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission may bar them from running, a fact that sources have it that Ruto has discussed this with Uhuru quietly and have decided that Mudavadi will get their support for presidency.

They believe that Mudavadi will win since he enjoys a lot of good will amongst the Kikuyu and the rest of the country, a fact which according to the Star were confirmed by
three MPs who are very close to Ruto. The MPs are almost certain that Ruto and Uhuru may not be in the ballot.

The strategy here is that even if Mudavadi does not win now in the rerun he will definitely defeat Raila since he would be having the support of other defeated candidates’ majority who belong to G7 group.

This could explain further why despite the pressure from fellow leaders in the G7 group to name his political party of choice, Uhuru Kenyatta who recently gave up chairmanship in former ruling party KANU at the weekend declined to bow to the pressure.

Speaking during the homecoming party of newly appointed Nairobi Metropolitan Minister Jamleck Kamau, Ruto and Wamalwa insisted that for the G7 political grouping to start strategizing for the general election, Kenyatta needed to make up his mind on his party.

While addressing delegates at a Gikuyu, Embu and Meru Association (GEMA) meeting held at the Limuru Conference Centre in March, Kenyatta pledged to name his preferred party in a month’s time of which he has not done.

Other leaders who spoke at the event which was attended by over 30 MPs among them cabinet ministers also hinted that Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi was headed in the group.

Dujis MP Aden Duale claimed that Mudavadi was on his way to G7 after ditching ODM. “We are counting Mudavadi among our leaders since we know what he stands for.

Apart from ICC, Ruto on his part has case pitting him and an Internally Displaced Person over a disputed 100-acre piece of land which has been given an ok to proceed to full hearing.

Adrian Muteshi has accused Ruto of grabbing the land. Early this month Ruto, through his lawyer, said he was willing to surrender the contentious property but later declined after Muteshi allegedly demanded compensation.

Muteshi lodged the suit in 2010 and sought to have the title deed of the land that is in Ruto’s possession cancelled. He has maintained that he owns the disputed land in Uasin Gishu since1989 but after the 2008 unrest in the Rift Valley the legislator allegedly took it over.

Like Uhuru, Citizen TV, in its program, “Who Owns Kenya?” estimates that Ruto is actually worth some Shs 300 million. Citizen TV says he owns businesses, land and rental houses especially in Nairobi. His most successful business is Amaco Insurance valued at Shs608 million. His Karen home is valued at Shs 85 million. And he has rental houses Easton Apartments in Jogoo Road and flats in Rongai.

People for Peace in Africa (PPA)
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