Standard Digital News - Kenya : CORD's hidden hand in ruling coalition's woes
By OSCAR OBONYO
Kenya: Even as leaders of Jubilee coalition move to contain emerging rifts within its ranks, experts point at the unseen hand of political rivals, in their troubles.
And for their running political interests and quiet competition, the President Uhuru-led TNA and URP of Deputy President William Ruto camps continue to take different positions on different matters, some involving leaders of the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy ( CORD).
Presently, there appears to be disagreement over the proposed retirement packages for former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka. The URP-allied Leader of Majority, Aden Duale, wants the duo to retire from politics as a pre-condition of benefiting from the package, while TNA Chairman, Jonstone Sakaja, is on record for supporting the payout.
Political scientist, Prof Amukowa Anangwe, reads politics in their stands. TNA, he argues, is interested in maintaining Raila's political relevance for fear that Ruto may inherit the Orange party leader's constituency. Raila and Ruto teamed up and worked closely in 2007 in the Orange party. In other words, to TNA, Raila acts a moderating buffer between the President and his deputy, while to URP Raila's absence could accord the party a chance to win over the former PM's traditional supporters.
This view is informed by the understanding that traditional Raila backers are unlikely to support Kenyatta. But Raila is still active on the political scene and is reportedly strategising ahead of the next presidential poll.
Separately, historian and International Relations expert, Prof Macharia Munene, attributes the current hostilities between URP and TNA to the previous retired President Kibaki-Raila post-poll tensions: "The pain of 2008 is back courtesy of the ICC cases that are overplaying the hostilities between the Kikuyu and Kalenjin at that time. This is exactly where Keter is coming from and we are going to see more of this as the cases progress."
In the meantime, OMD-allied Tigania East Aburi Mpuri says they are waiting to see what happens.
"My advice to the President, is that he also attend the ICC hearings, even if its for uniformity's sake, otherwise this Hague thing will finish them," says Mpuri.
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000097880&story_title=cord-s-hidden-hand-in-ruling-coalition-s-woes
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