Deputy President William Ruto could be on the verge of sealing a political deal with ANC boss Musalia Mudavadi, the Star can reveal.
The pact would officially tip the race to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta for a two-horse showdown between Ruto and ODM boss Raila Odinga.
The deal will also sound a death knell to One Kenya Alliance that was billed as a third force in the Uhuru succession battle.
The Star has established that the Ruto and Mudavadi camps have initiated cooperation talks that are likely to crystallise by mid-February to pave the way for a coalition agreement.
Highly placed sources within Mudavadi's camp told the Star that the ANC boss has ruled out joining the Azimio La Umoja Movement, which is propelling a Raila candidature.
Although the ongoing negotiations are happening at the top echelons with little knowledge by their confidants, Mudavadi is said to have ordered his troops to cease hostilities against Ruto.
On Sunday, Khwisero MP Christopher Aseka, an ally of Mudavadi and an ANC member, told the Star that there are some “informal discussions” on Ruto teaming up with the ANC boss.
The MP said the talks are being driven by some ANC leaders in ‘darkness” to avoid jeopardising the progress of the ongoing negotiations.
"We are told that there are some engagements with Ruto but they are cheating Mudavadi that they are negotiating for running mate slot," Aseka said.
"I'm not sure whether Mudavadi has approved these or not but I think so."
Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala had on Sunday said there was nothing wrong if Ruto and Mudavadi were in talks.
"We don't want Musalia to contest the presidency for the sake of it. If he has done his simulations and knows he can win in a coalition, so be it," he told the Star.
He went on: "We are in the season of political persuasion and transfers. Politics is a game of possibilities."
Also, a National Delegates Convention for ANC has been scheduled on January 23 in Nairobi, which will set in motion the formalisation of the talks.
The NDC — the supreme decision-making organ of ANC — will officially mandate Mudavadi to scout for new partners after severing ties with Raila following the death of Nasa.
Mudavadi was a key linchpin in the National Super Alliance Coalition that fielded Raila and Wiper boss Kalonzo Musyoka, and which nearly vanquished President Kenyatta in the 2017 election.
The developments could split the Oka outfit that has been teetering on the brink of collapse amid reports that Kalonzo and Kanu boss Gideon Moi are leaning towards Raila.
Bungoma Senator and Ford Kenya boss Moses Wetang'ula is also said to be having a soft spot for Ruto.
On Friday, a mega football tournament at the Mumias Sports Complex, Kakamega, exposed the ongoing behind-the-scenes negotiations between the Ruto and Mudavadi camps.
Ruto was the surprise chief guest at the event organised by Malala — one of Mudavadi's most staunch allies and confidant — swirling speculations about possible talks.
Instructively, Ruto declared that Mudavadi had given him his blessings to attend the tournament, which happened a few kilometres from the Azimio La Umoja rally at Bukhungu Stadium.
“I respect Mudavadi. Every time I come to Western, I inform him,” Ruto said as he delivered Sh1.5 million for the tournament.
It was also on the same day that ANC deputy party leader Ayub Savula decamped to Raila’s camp, leaving Mudavadi politically wounded, as at least nine other party MCAs defected.
Savula, who has said he is still in ANC despite backing Raila’s Azimio, however, lifted the lid in the Ruto-Mudavadi intrigues, saying there is a likelihood that there are talks.
“I don’t have information on such but I suspect there must be something cooking. I have talked to Mudavadi about working with Raila and he asked me to go slow,” he told the Star on the phone.
He said the fact that none of ANC MPs attack Ruto could be a pointer of a silent deal.
But Aseka said Ruto’s appearance was a clear indication there are discussions between the two camps about the presidential election.
"The presence of Ruto at the Cleophas Malala annual soccer tournament finals exposed whatever discussions that have been taking place in darkness," Aseka added.
Should the talks materialise and Mudavadi agrees to work with Ruto, he will be expected to play second fiddle given that the Constitution bars the DP from holding the position for more than 10 years.
The developments would also complicate Ruto’s running-mate choice given that the Mt Kenya region, which he expects to support his State House bid, is also eyeing the post.
On December 15, Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua, Ruto’s key Mt Kenya point man said that Ruto had agreed to pick his deputy from the region.
“We agreed with him that if he wanted us to join his government, then he should look for us a seat where we will help him in reviving the economy, and he told us he will give us the position of deputy president," he said.
Speaking in an interview with a local TV station, Gachagua, however, said the DP had a free hand to select his choice from the many allies who have been vocal in defending him.
There are reports that Ruto’s emissaries are said to be dangling the yet-to-be-created position of Chief Minister as possible slot that would be created to accommodate Mudavadi.
Butere MP Tindi Mwale, however, denied reports that ANC is working on a secret political deal with DP Ruto.
"Such reports are mere propaganda by Mudavadi's rivals to try and sway the leaders allied to him but there is nothing like that I know of," Mwale said.
Mudavadi had last month castigated Uhuru for indirectly rallying Kenyans to back Raila’s candidature, signalling he was gravitating towards Ruto.
“If people are worried that the young people are running fast, then they should realise that young people are tired of us going too slowly,” the ANC leader said in apparent response to Uhuru.
President Kenyatta had warned the youth to rethink about the presidential elections and stop acting in haste.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
