By Anderson Ojwang
The sky was blue and pregnant. It waited for the guests to arrive and settle before it finally opened the gates. The droplets were significant and spoke volumes.
The clouds opened its doors after the leaders had converged in Kitale for the 23rd anniversary of the country’s eighth vice president, the late Wamalwa Kijana.
The rains were symbolic in context, a sign of happiness and overwhelmed spirits of the Wamalwa family welcoming the guests to his graveyard and the book launch.
The convergence was coincidental and ironic in nature and indeed. It brought together the casualties of the 2002 Narc wave, former President Uhuru Kenyatta, and the victors Charity Ngilu, Kalonzo Musyoka and Martha Karua.
Also in the train were opposition leaders JB Muturi, the host Eugene Wamalwa and Dr Fred Matiang’i, among others.
Flashback
Former President Uhuru revisited the 2002 wave which swept the party of independence, Kanu, from leadership.
The wave also occasioned him and then President Daniel Arap Moi loss at the presidential election to the Narc presidential candidate, the late Mwai Kibaki, and his running mate Wamalwa.
“We were in Kanu with Moi and we had planned and plotted to win the election in 2002. I had even invited and requested Wamalwa to join and work with me. But the wave was so strong and we lost,” he said.
Uhuru tried to persuade Wamalwa to join him but he declined, and they eventually rode to victory.
“Wamalwa told me he was in the other formation. He didn’t steal for me the secret of how they would come back powerful at the ballot.
“My people, it was a wave that swept us with Moi and we were told to go home and relax. I gladly accepted the people’s verdict,” he said.
He said despite the loss to Narc, there was no enmity between the leaders as they worked for the benefit of the country.
“They took over the leadership and led the country. We did not have any form of enmity. I was the leader of the opposition and he was a leader in the government.
“Wamalwa was a gentleman. We were in two different political formations. Our political formations did not breed enmity,” he said.
“Let’s not forget that Wamalwa, with Ngilu and Karua among others, sacrificed for the democracy of the country, and Kenyans must be allowed to elect a leader of their choice,” he said.
Uhuru criticised the move to lock some leaders from other regions, terming it as retrogressive and a negation of the gains achieved so far.
“Nobody can remove that sacrifice from the people. Sell your policies, stop preventing others from holding their rallies. That takes Kenya backward. Seek for your votes; the electorate will give or deny you,” he said.
I am not a sponsor
Uhuru denied sponsoring the opposition against his former deputy President William Ruto.
“I don’t want to be called a sponsor. I do not want issues. I have said it is the people to decide. There is no reason to force Kenyans to vote for you. Kenyans will elect their own leaders. I want to request the political leaders to seek votes peacefully,” he said.
A section of broad-based MPs and governors have been critical of Uhuru over what they claimed as sponsoring the opposition against Ruto in the next year’s general elections.
“Even I at one time sought for the votes and I was denied, and on the second trial I was given. I am not politicking. I am not interested in any seat. I thank God for the time I have been in leadership, and I thank Kenyans for giving me the opportunity,” Uhuru said.
Revisit
Ngilu was more categorical on the 2002 winning blueprint and committed to employing it to ensure opposition victory.
“In 2002, there was a fallout in Kanu, and the leaders – the late Raila Odinga, the late George Saitoti, Moody Awori and Kalonzo – joined us and created a wave,” she said.
Ngilu said the Narc wave sent Kanu home and that it was time it was revisited and applied against Ruto.
She appealed to Uhuru to support the opposition outfit to send President Ruto home.
“Now brother Uhuru, you are in the field. Kindly join us to liberate the country. It is going to be tough for all of us,” she said.
Ngilu volunteered to lead the actualisation of the 2002 opposition unity blueprint to field a single candidate against Ruto.
“I want to give myself some responsibilities today to revisit the 2002 blueprint so that we can bring together all the opposition leaders together and agree on a single presidential candidate.
“Will you give us the opportunity to undertake that?” she said.
Kalonzo said he was in the team that defeated Uhuru and Kanu and was committed to employing the script.
“I was in the team that made Uhuru Kenyatta the surviving victim. It is time that within the 361 days to elections, we take Ruto home. Uhuru is free to speak without being criticised. We are ready to form a team to take Ruto home. We will remain committed,” he said.
Wake-up call
For President Ruto, a chance of a 2002 political unity blueprint is a walking nightmare to his re-election.
The events at Wamalwa’s 23rd anniversary should be a worry and a possible build-up to opposition unity. Time may not be on his side to counter the move.
