By JULIUS SIGEI juliussigei@gmail.comPosted Saturday, January 29 2011 at 21:00
In Summary
- Suspended minister faces tough choices in bid to salvage his political fortunes
He has been a Cabinet minister in the grand coalition for a combined period of less than three years, yet he has managed to project a larger-than-life image, not only in his native Rift Valley but across the country.
Even as he fights off court cases at home and internationally that threaten to cut short his political career, Eldoret North William Ruto puts on the face of a stoic who is confident of emerging unscathed from the battle in his grand march to State House.
But even as he strikes a confident pose, he faces a real danger should the ICC confirm charges against him.
For starters, he would have to relinquish his Cabinet position altogether (he is now on suspension) if the court makes demands on him that would make it impossible for him to operate.
Dream cut
Second, an international prosecution having over him it would mean that he could not be a presidential candidate in 2012.
Nevertheless, he demonstrated his confidence last Thursday when he kept responding, in a jocular manner, to text messages the Sunday Nation sent him from the courts where a Sh96 million fraud case against him began in earnest despite the proposal for an out-of court settlement entered by Joshua Kulei, one of his co-accused.
The trial began even as the ICC sent the strongest message yet that it was not happy with the government’s move to seek deferral of the cases through the African Union and the UN Security Council.
Mr Ruto is on the list of post-election violence suspects together with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey, Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura, former Police Commissioner Hussein Ali and radio journalist Joshua arap Sang.
Close confidants say Mr Ruto’s dream of residing in State House took form in 1990 when, as a choir leader at the University of Nairobi’s Christian Union, he was a frequent visitor to President Moi’s State House when he is said to have fallen in love with the glamour of the house on the hill.
But now his dream appears to have run into roadblocks. According to University of Nairobi political analyst Dr Adams Oloo, Mr Ruto’s problems are not only legal.
“When the ODM grassroots elections are held in March, and he officially leaves the party as one of the deputy leaders, this will leave him in limbo as the UDM he is trying to hop into is not yet ready given the tussle between the (Joseph) Chirchir and (John) Koech-led factions,” he said.
If he were found guilty in the ongoing corruption cases, he would be constitutionally barred from holding a leadership position according to Chapter Six of the Constitution on leadership and integrity.
“But even if he was to be acquitted of all the charges currently facing him, he will still have to be fighting off the baggage brought about by the cases,” says Dr Oloo.
Last week, Mr Ruto organised a “presidential” visit to his Eldoret town backyard in record time, mobilising more than 60 MPs. In a demonstration of his growing influence, protocol was disregarded as he spoke after all the ministers before inviting Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta to speak.
He has consolidated his position at the helm of Kalenjin politics to such a degree that any politician who is seen not to toe his line suffers public wrath. Roads minister Franklin Bett had to cut short his speech at the Eldoret meeting after the crowd shouted him down.
But some MPs remain adamant. Energy assistant minister Magerer Langat, has challenged Mr Ruto to declare what happened to the money collected in a much publicised fundraiser meant for the Mau evictees two years ago.
This, coupled with the constant claims he has been making to the evictees that the Treasury has released the money for their resettlement and that they would be resettled soon, is another issue he has to deal with. He also has to contend with the looming shadow of retired President Moi who is straddling Rift Valley Province like the proverbial colossus.
It also remains to be seen whether the peace-building that was mooted last week in Eldoret, which bore the brunt of the post-election violence, will last or fall victim to political whims.
Uniting the fractious Kalenjin sub-tribes is another to-do item on Mr Ruto’s already full in-tray. The heckling of Mr Bett in Eldoret elicited some criticism from leaders from the Kipsigis region like Kanu secretary-general Nick Salat, who said the incident could create bad blood between the Nandi and Kipsigis.
Ethnic wounds
Closer to home, Mr Ruto hosted the President in his constituency, and in a manner that suggested he would spearhead reconciliation, resettlement and peacemaking between communities that have fought long and left deep ethnic wounds.
Given that so many MPs have stuck out their necks for him, political pundits also suggest that Mr Ruto will find it difficult to reward his allies with direct nomination for the various seats next year and at the same time respect the electorate who are known to send a sizeable percentage of the sitting MPs packing in any election.
The analysts say the 44-year-old MP could burn his fingers if he dictates to voters rather than listening to them.
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