GNU party sets deadline for aspirants

By Boniface Gikandi   and Job Weru

The Grand National Union (GNU) party has given aspirants wishing to run on its ticket until September 30 to register.

Secretary General Mr Nderitu Gachagua said those who do not meet the deadline would be locked out.

The party’s governing council resolved to set the time frame and ensure those who have expressed interest have their details taken.

Speaking during a meeting at Kenol market, the council led by Public Works Assistant minister Mwangi Kiunjuri supported calls to support Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta’s bid for presidency.

Kiunjuri said political parties supporting Kenyatta’s bid were planning joint nominations.

The Laikipia East MP observed that the alliance was aimed at attaining presidential victory and majority seats in the senate and Parliament.

Other parties in support of Uhuru’s presidential bid are The National Alliance, Party of National Unity and Alliance Party of Kenya.

“We are initiating a unity that all Kenyans may want. We want to ensure that we will strike victory without necessarily having to hold a run off for the presidential seat,” said Kiunjuri.

The legislator noted that the Constitution allowed political parties to form pre and post election alliances and warned those hell bent on politicising the outfit as a Mt Kenya issue.

He said the alliance was working on modalities that will guide nomination of candidates.

“We want to map up some areas where we (parties) will sponsor candidates on the alliance or on individual parties,” he said, noting that candidates running for various positions in Nairobi and other cosmopolitan areas will vie on the alliance ticket.