Ongeri, three MPs decamp to TNA

By Robert Nyasato

KISII, KENYA: Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta got a major boost for his presidential bid after four MPs led by Foreign Affairs Minister, Prof Sam Ongeri formally ditched their political parties for The National Alliance.

The four- Ongeri, National Heritage Assistant Minister Wilfred Ombui of Kanu, Kitutu Masaba MP Walter Nyambati(National Labour Party) and his Nyaribari Chache counterpart Robert Monda of Narc announced they had joined TNA on whose ticket they would seek re-election in the coming General Election and woe support for Uhuru.

Dubbed the Gusii Declaration, the MPs backed by a host of political leaders drawn from 13 constituencies of Kisii and Nyamira counties said the community’s interests would best be championed under a TNA arrangement.

In a statement read on their behalf by Ongeri at the Monday meeting attended by more than 2000 delegates at the Kisii Sports Club, the leaders resolved to back Uhuru’s bid to succeed President Kibaki come the March 4 polls.

“After wide consultations with the electorate, we resolved to rally our support behind the DPM,” Prof Ongeri who is running for the Kisii County Senate told the meeting.

During the meeting, Kisii Mayor Ouru Moseti who was elected on an ODM ticket sent signals that he was about to decamp from the orange party.

“My presence in this meeting is clear indication of where i am headed by I will announce that later,” Moseti said.

Although Ongeri defended the declaration as being representative of the Gusii people aspirations, the elected leaders could not account for the local six MPs who were absent.

The six including Public Works Minister Chris Obure, Assistant Ministers Richard Onyonka, James Gesami, Simon Ogari and Manson Oyongo and Bonchari MP Charles Onyancha are allied to Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Also absent was East Africa Legislative Assembly member Joseph Kiangoi and nominated MP George Nyamweya who has been fronting for DPM Musalia Mudavadi’s presidential bid.

Prof Ongeri urged the Gusii electorate to use their numerical strength wisely to chart the presidential polls outcome saying with 1.2 million votes the community would easily play the role of a swing state.

Nyambati said the community would not afford to be used by presidential aspirants out to satisfy their selfish interests.

Monda and Ombui said the Gusii people would only make impact and bargain effectively for the national cake if they voted as a block in a party of choice like TNA.

The TNA meeting was in preparation for Uhuru’s two day campaign in the region commencing Sunday to consolidate support for his bid.

All the Gusii political leaders are in agreement that the community needed to belong to one party to make meaning in the new political dispensation but they speak differently when it comes to which is the vehicle.