Jump to navigation

Kenya

Deputy President Ruto courts Museveni's support

As electoral rivalries get ever more complex in Nairobi, a leading presidential contender seeks backing in Kampala

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni says that his meeting with Kenya's Deputy President William Ruto last week was simply a gathering of neighbouring leaders. But to State House watchers in Nairobi it's all about a rival candidate on manoeuvres ahead of next year's elections.

Despite a lack of independent evidence, the Deputy President's team briefed journalists that Museveni favours a Ruto presidency over Raila Odinga, and that an endorsement is on the way. Museveni's officials were scrupulously diplomatic, insisting that there was little political significance to the meeting. Many of Ruto's business interests, including large farming operations, are in Uganda, although the source of his wealth has never been explained.

Ruto mooted the prospect of Museveni leading an East African Federation. It is unclear how such as organisation would be different to the current six-nation East African Community. Yet Museveni is on record that he would like such a job before he retires to 'go back to my cows' (AC Vol 62 No 13, A slightly bigger tent).

Ruto's rivals in Nairobi are stuck in court as they try to rescue their Building Bridges Initiative. As another sign of the Deputy President's confidence, his aides told journalists that their man had asked Museveni to intervene as a regional elder statesman to heal Ruto's rift with President Uhuru Kenyatta (AC Vol 62 No 14, Why the dynasties fear Ruto).

That would be an important test. Relations between Kenyatta and Museveni have been warm for much of the last decade (AC Vol 56 No 18, Warming up the Kenyatta-Museveni axis).

Ruto's bid points to some of the diplomatic manoeuvres within the region that the presidential contenders will make ahead of next August's elections. Unlike Odinga, Musalia Mudavadi and Kalonzo Musyoka, Ruto has little diplomatic support or international reputation. Tanzanian support could also be in play following the death of President John Magufuli, a close ally of Odinga.



Related Articles

A slightly bigger tent

In the febrile post-election climate, President Yoweri Museveni's attempts to co-opt his political rivals and dissidents are proving tortuous for the ruling National Resistance Movement.


Why the dynasties fear Ruto

With his rivals mired in litigation and squabbling over who will be their candidate, the Deputy President is again the man to beat

With his rivals bogged down in court trying to salvage the Building Bridges Initiative, Deputy President William Ruto has re-emerged as the man to beat in next August's...


Warming up the Kenyatta-Museveni axis

Common interests are prompting more bilateral cooperation but the latest agreement over a pipeline will sorely test regional solidarity

In two weeks' time, when most of Africa's 54 leaders travel to New York for the opening of the United Nations General Assembly, there will be much talk...


One-horse race

The government cancelled the bidding for Uganda’s biggest hydropower project, the Karuma Falls Dam, pending a procurement review, after the selected bidder lied to the Ministry of Energy.


Chickens come home to roost

The thread that bound President Kenyatta together with his deputy Ruto is fraying. There are growing worries about terrorism

Three questions loom over the country in 2014. Will President Uhuru Kenyatta and Vice-President William Ruto win their confrontation with the International Criminal Court? Will the government reform...