It’s a deal! Uhuru, Ruto declare .........

 

Sources close to the two said that the politicians had clinched a deal in which the Deputy Prime Minister will be the presidential candidate and Ruto his running mate.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 27 – Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto on Tuesday struck a coalition deal, ahead of the December 4 deadline for the filing of pre-election pacts with the Registrar of Political Parties.
Sources close to the two said that the politicians had clinched a deal in which the Deputy Prime Minister will be the presidential candidate and Ruto his running mate.
Later, the communications director at Kenyatta’s office, Munyori Buku, sent a statement to newsrooms saying; “The two leaders have agreed on an alliance whose goals will be national unity, prosperity for all Kenyans, reconciliation and offers a definite and clear roadmap of making Kenya an economic powerhouse in the region, Africa and the world in the next decade.”
He did not divulge details of the pact which he said will be unveiled at a rally planned for Nakuru on Sunday.
“A team from the two parties is working on the programme and plans for the day. Two caravans – one starting at Kinungi near Naivasha and the other at Kuresoi – will start the journey to Nakuru. Many other like-minded party leaders, MPs, aspirants for various seats, councillors and religious, business, women, youth, cooperative union, farmers and civil society leaders have been invited and will be present,” Buku indicated.
A section of elders from counties in the North Rift region earlier dismissed an alliance between Ruto’s URP (United Republican Party) and Kenyatta’s TNA (The National Alliance), saying there has never been proper consultation of all stakeholders.
According to a poll released by Ipsos Synovate last Tuesday, Kenyatta would win the election in case of a runoff.
Most of the surveys have also showed that Kenyatta is the second most preferred candidate after Prime Minister Raila Odinga while Ruto has frequently occupied the third position.
However, Kenyatta and Ruto are faced with obstacles in their bid to occupy State House.

Uhuru and Ruto shake hands at a public rally in Narok on November

The leaders have a case pending in court challenging their eligibility to vie for political office over integrity queries, as stipulated in Chapter Six of the Constitution.
The bid to block them stems from cases the two are facing for crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court.
The ICC has however said the two are free to run for political office and has listed their cases for hearing in April, after Kenya goes to the polls on March 4, 2013.