[Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga. Why Uhuru is unlikely to bow down and dialogue with Raila before October 26. [Photo: The Star]President Uhuru Kenyatta has said he will not hold any negotiations with the opposition leader Raila Odinga saying their dialogue should be on the ballot.Raila has since pulled from the next Thursday's poll though the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has said that his name is on the ballot after he refused to withdraw legally.The grandstanding between the two sons of the two Kenya's founding fathers, has left the country engulfed in a cloud of uncertainty while the drums of war crescendo keep on rising. But why will for instance, Uhuru, who as President is the symbol of unity, not give dialogue a chance?Well, as he keeps on saying, Uhuru believes that Kenyans should be allowed to vote and decide who their next president should be, without any compromise."There will be no sitting in boardrooms to negotiate and share government. It is Kenyans who have the right to decide who will be President," Uhuru said in Trans Nzoia County on Wednesday during a campaign tour.Uhuru, also seem to believe that Raila's non-participation on the repeat poll is inconsequential."Those who do not want to participate in the October 26 fresh election are free to do so, but should not curtail the rights of those who want to vote. The same way nobody is being forced to participate in the October 26 election, similarly no one has the right to stop those who want to participate," he added.Uhuru's close confidants like Jubilee Party vice-chairman David Murathe, who is perhaps the most vocal hardliner in Uhuru circles, has made clear that Uhuru can only dialogue after October 26.Another thing, with Raila having withdrawn from the poll, Uhuru may not find the essence of engaging Raila in a process he is not party to. He is almost sure of winning the poll with at least 95%.Finally, Deputy President William Ruto. If any dialogue were to be held and the resolution be the formation of a national unity government, Ruto would be the main victim of this arrangement. He would be forced to assume position three in the 'nusu-mkate' government, with Uhuru and Raila assuming the first two. This, without doubt, would complicate his 2022 presidential ambition.

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