Musyoka: Kenya's lone ranger

By Juliet Njeri
BBC News, Nairobi

Once described by political rivals as a lily-livered politician, 54-year old Kalonzo Musyoka seems determined to prove his critics wrong with his bid to become Kenya's next president.

Mr Musyoka successfully steered the Sudan and Somalia peace talks

After two decades in politics, Mr Musyoka feels confident enough to cut ties with former allies in the opposition and assume lone ranger tactics in the race for the country's top seat.

Politics in Kenya have long been based on ethnicity and he is banking on the support from his Kamba people in eastern Kenya to catapult him into a new level in his political career.

However, Mr Musyoka's popularity seems to be waning, after he won primary elections to become the Orange Democratic Movement-Kenya flag-bearer at the 27 December general elections.

The latest opinion polls place him last among the three main presidential contenders, Raila Odinga of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and Mwai Kibaki, who is seeking a second term in office on the new Party of National Unity (PNU) ticket.

But Mr Musyoka, a lawyer by profession, is soldiering on, banking on his past experience in government.

Independent politics

The ODM-Kenya presidential aspirant was a long-serving minister under retired President Daniel arap Moi and also the then ruling party Kanu's organising secretary.

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While holding the foreign ministry portfolio, he took a central role in regional peace mediation where he takes pride in successfully steering the Sudan and Somalia peace talks.

But it was during the run-up to the 2002 elections that observers say Mr Musyoka got the taste for independent minded politics.

He stunned many when he fell out with his political mentor, former President Moi, over his decision to pick Uhuru Kenyatta, then a political novice as his successor.

Mr Musyoka defected to the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) along with Raila Odinga, who then led the rebellion against Mr Moi just months after he became Kanu's secretary general.

The two leaders were later instrumental in the formation of the National Rainbow Coalition (Narc), which handed a stinging defeat to Kanu and brought Mwai Kibaki to power.

Youthful good looks

Political pundits argue that in the wake of the growing countrywide support for Mr Odinga's ODM party, Mr Musyoka has to work extra hard to endear his party to other parts of Kenya apart from his stronghold in the east.

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He is also struggling to shake off the "Made by Moi" label - to prove he is his own man and can be trusted to run a government without undue influence.

But as a self confessed born-again Christian, Mr Musyoka maintains that he is the best man to reconcile Kenya - a country he says is at a crossroads.

Some consider him a moderate and his youthful good looks have also endeared him to many.

By walking away from his erstwhile comrades, Mr Musyoka may have irreparably alienated himself.

As a lone ranger, he is being touted as a possible king-maker, should he decide to sacrifice his lofty ambition and support either Mr Kibaki or Mr Odinga.

Although he insists that he will not step aside for anyone.