Split as PNU snubs Uhuru party deal

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta.[Photo:File]

By Francis Ngige

An agreement in which three parties resolved to back Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta’s candidacy for president has vaporised while just three weeks old.

The pact had boosted Uhuru’s presidential bid on The National Alliance (TNA) party ticket, but the action by Party of National Unity (PNU), one of the parties to the deal, to field a presidential candidate has scrambled Uhuru’s political chessboard.

Even Transport Minister Amos Kimunya who, as PNU Secretary General declared the party would back TNA has made a massive U-turn.

Uhuru initially appeared to have won the backing of PNU, Grand National Union (GNU) and Alliance Party of Kenya (APK) in a deal inked early this month reportedly the culmination of months of negotiations.

Cabinet ministers Amos Kimunya and Kiraitu Murungi signed the pact on behalf of PNU and APK respectively, while GNU party leader Mwangi Kiunjuri represented his party.

The parties had committed to support Uhuru’s quest to succeed President Kibaki, essentially undertaking their parties would not field presidential candidates.

Although cracks had earlier emerged with officials of the parties disowning the agreement, that Kimunya himself has beaten a retreat underlines the parting of ways.

Field candidate

On Monday, Kimunya, who is PNU Secretary General, announced those interested in the presidency and other seats will be hosted at the party headquarters next week.

“Those who wish to contest are expected at the party headquarters on September 7 for a meeting,” Kimunya said in a press advertisement.

Separately, PNU chairman Gideon Konchella was emphatic the party would field a presidential candidate in the forthcoming polls.

Konchellah, who took over at the party’s helm after the death of cabinet minister George Saitoti, who was the party’s presidential flag bearer, said the PNU would soldier on.

“Though it was a big blow, the death of Saitoti will not stop us from fielding a presidential candidate and candidates for other seats,” Konchela said in Narok.

Kiunjuri even pointed out no deal had been sealed, terming what the leaders undertook as “intent to form a coalition”.

“Whatever we agreed is not legally binding because according to the Political Parties Act, the parties should deposit such pacts with the registrar of political parties,” Kiunjuri told The Standard.

The Assistant minister said political parties should be given freedom to carry out their activities in accordance with the constitution, referring to the right to field candidates.

“For example I’m the GNU party leader, but I cannot dictate what happens in other parties or what members want. We follow the party’s Constitution,” said Kiunjuri.

Attempts to reach Kimunya for comments were fruitless as his calls went unanswered.

PNU Organising Secretary Maina Kamanda insisted PNU had a constitution to follow.

“I don’t want to speak for the Secretary General (Kimunya) but the agreement was just a means of working together. Nothing concrete was agreed. So as a party our activities should go on,” said Kamanda.

He added: “Even if you are supporting somebody, it does not mean that you lock out other people who may be interested in the presidency in the party. We cannot stop the activities of the party.”

The apparent U-turn has caused jitters within Uhuru’s camp with his supporters convinced the casual accorded to the informal agreement is sign the parties have deserted the short-lived political union.

“It is very strange that the same parties that agreed to support Uhuru and participate in joint nominations have reneged on the promises. We wonder whether their commitment was genuine or not,” said an insider of TNA.

The backing Uhuru had apparently secured caused jitters in the G7 alliance whose top leaders skipped a meeting Uhuru called a day later for presidential aspirants in the group.

Eldoret North MP William Ruto and Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi snubbed the meeting, with the DPM’s aides saying he would not have attended a meeting to endorse a competitor.

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka sent nominated MP Mohammed Affey to represent him.

When the parties met and agreed in principle to support him, it appeared Uhuru was finally making headway in efforts to unite competing parties in the region.

Uhuru has spoken out against multiple parties in Mt Kenya, but his critics say he contributed to the division by launching TNA.

The Gatundu South member also has to contend with opposition presented by Gichugu MP Martha Karua of Narc Kenya and Gatanga legislator Peter Kenneth.

On Tuesday, TNA downplayed the new development saying the parties were within their rights to seek aspirants for various positions.

TNA Secretary General Onyango Oloo said TNA did not have a formal alliance with the other parties and what was there was “just an expression of interest.”