Kalonzo’s arbitration efforts betray raw ambitions

http://www.eastandard.net/news/?id=1143980004

Kalonzo’s arbitration efforts betray raw ambitions
Published on January 6, 2008, 12:00 am


By Oscar Obonyo

Except for his suspect impatience to have the presidential poll impasse ironed out "without any further delay", ODM-Kenya leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s march to new political heights is on.

There is no denying that the ball is squarely in his court and he can comfortably figure out the size of potato he wants in a coalition as he awaits Kibaki’s formal and public overture.

The only glaring concern, though, is that Kalonzo’s hurry has betrayed his apparent raw greed for political power.

The push by PNU and ODM-Kenya politicians, who last Sunday advocated for release of presidential results "without any further delay", quickly plunged the country into anarchy, that has left more than 300 dead and over 100,000 displaced.


He said: "Mr Musyoka’s claim is not surprising. He is an irrelevance to resolving the current crisis and is seeking cheap publicity through exploiting the national agony that has been inflicted on us by Mwai Kibaki’s open theft of the election."

The ODM leader further accuses Kalonzo of being part of the problem that currently besets the nation.

Raila claims that tens of thousands of votes were stolen in Ukumbani for Kibaki, yet Kalonzo had refused to condemn it.

"He is indeed part of the scheme to defraud the country of inaugurating the president Kenyans elected," charges Raila.

"It is pathetic to see Kalonzo masquerading as a peacemaker. This man had a chance to help resolve the crises, but he selfishly spoilt for everyone who had a better chance. What Kalonzo never understood was Kenyans’ resolve for change," writes Terrence Maloki of Nairobi.

Arguing that the ODM-Kenya leader has vested interests in the current stalemate Maloki says that Kalonzo is blemished in a coalition for national healing, and "he cannot broker reconciliation, without injecting self-interest."

Writes Ms Benta Wanjiru of Nairobi: "Kalonzo and his handlers have proved they are opportunists per excellence. If Samuel Kivuitu’s allegations are correct, we must ask: What did ODM-Kenya intend to achieve with demanding release of disputed presidential election results?"

Wanjiru concludes that Kalonzo and group want a place in a coalition, "the Simeon Nyachae-style".

This is sad and selfish," she observes.

Political scientist, Mr Mutahi Ngunyi, who accuses Kalonzo of promoting selfish political interests, supports these sentiments.

Ngunyi says Kenya would not be in the current acrimony, with more than 300 young people dead, had Kalonzo not insisted on "miracle victory".

ODM Pentagon member, Mr Najib Balala and other party bigwigs point out that Kalonzo was all along part of the Government scheme; the Mwingi North MP-elect maintains that he will freely engage in a coalition arrangement "where necessary".

But even as he denied holding discussions with the President over his inclusion in Government, all indications were that Kalonzo was leading his troops into PNU to captalise on the spoils.

The Sunday Standard has learnt that MPs-elect allied to ODM-Kenya are independently lobbying for their inclusion in the yet to be named Cabinet.

Judging from the shadowy performance of his key campaigners and members of ODM-Kenya Summit, running mate Dr Julia Ojiambo, Mr Joe Khamisi and Mr Lucas Maitha —who were swept aside — one is persuaded to think Kalonzo fought his battle almost single-handedly.

Choosing Kalonzo as VP over other PNU politicians is tantamount to dumping him in a den of political hyenas that may maul him before 2012, when another General Election is expected.

Kalonzo’s entry is likely to cause internal dissent and upset the political scales within PNU.

Considered an "outsider", such a move would prove perfect fodder for internal woes and competition as witnessed under the Narc coalition of the Ninth Parliament.

Having entered into a pre-election pact and campaigned hard for Kibaki, Kanu, for instance, expects a giant share of the spoils. And with 11 seats, it leads the pack of party partners with the highest number of seats.

Kanu chairman, Mr Uhuru Kenyatta is on record for suggesting that if Kibaki wins the presidency then a Kanu politician should be appointed VP.

Uhuru made a bold historic move to back President Kibaki’s re-election bid for what Kanu leaders have termed a "purely strategic retreat", and the Gatundu South MP-elect will accordingly be alert to Kalonzo’s maneuvers.

Yet, one-time Vice-President, Prof George Saitoti, will also not let the opportunity go. Although he is MP-elect for Kajiado North, which is in the Rift Valley Province, Saitoti is largely considered by a clique around President Kibaki in Central Province, as a leading player in the Kibaki succession.

As he warms up, therefore, for a position in government, Kalonzo is confronted with many challenges, including some that border on his conscience and principles. It is interesting to see if he could betray these.

Will he be joining Government out of fear of staying in the opposition or because the move will push him a step closer to the presidency? And will this be the long desired "change" that Kalonzo championed during his campaign? It could be a ‘miracle’.