By GEOFFREY MOSOKU and RAWLINGS OTIENO
Confusion reigned over Water minister Charity Ngilu’s return to Jubilee coalition after chairmen of three main allied parties denounced her membership and eligibility for the coalition’s presidential nomination on Tuesday.
However, shortly after the chairmen curiously turned around, to “clarify that Hon Charity Ngilu is welcome to this coalition as a partner contrary to a misconception in the media”.
The contradictory statements came against the fact that having been with the Uhuru team, Ngilu last week switched to Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s Coalition for Reforms and Democracy, before crossing to Uhuru’s side again this week.
It is believed the decision to lock out Ngilu was reversed following intervention of The National Alliance leader Uhuru Kenyatta. What was baffling was whether the chairmen of the principal parties could call a news conference on such a sensitive issue without the prompting or even knowledge of the presidential aspirants and leaders of their individual parties.
After the chairmen’s news conference Ngilu insisted she was in the nomination race for the Jubilee presidential ticket alongside Deputy Prime Ministers Musalia Mudavadi and Uhuru even though the officials were clear she isn’t in the race, as she is not a member.
“What is there is just a hypothesis. She has not formally contacted us, but when she comes we will welcome her,” said Mr Francis Kaparo, who is the chairman of Eldoret North MP William Ruto’s United Republican Party.
The meeting was also addressed by Uhuru’s TNA chairman Johnson Sakaja, and Mudavadi’s United Democratic Forum chairman Osman Hassan. The UDF chairman read the joint statement.
“The law is clear, that pre-election pacts once signed cannot be changed. It can only happen in a post-election pact and that is when we can sign a new deal,” Kaparo then declared, sealing Ngilu’s fate until when the second statement came.
However, later Mr Sakaja circulated an unsigned statement bearing the names of Kaparo and Hassan contradicting their earlier comments. Though they had insisted the only valid agreement signed within the Political Parties Act December 4 deadline was that of Uhuru, Ruto and Mudavadi, they beat an about-turn, saying she was free to join Jubilee’s race.
They added she “will sign a co-operation agreement that will enable her to participate in the activities of Jubilee Coalition’’.
Informed decision
This appeared to suggest Jubilee is seeking to accommodate Ngilu in a co-operation deal, rather than a pre-election agreement like the one signed by the other three leaders guaranteeing themselves 33 per cent share of government positions if they win.
Confusion heightened when Ngilu, who was at the Kitui Forestry Institute, declared she was in the Jubilee race. “I want to personally hear from Uhuru Kenyatta, William Ruto and Musalia Mudavadi that I cannot contest on the Jubilee ticket for me to make an informed decision,” Ngilu told her supporters.
Ngilu’s position in the alliance, sources within TNA reveal, is considered crucial as she could easily be picked by consensus as Mudavadi’s running mate should it be impossible for Uhuru and Ruto to run because of their criminal charges at The Hague.
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URP and TNA sources reveal that the two may even opt out at the last minute if it becomes clear international pressure is steeped against them.
Insiders
The international community compounded this fear last week when former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who brokered Kenya’s power-sharing deal in 2008, warned that Kenya risks isolation if it elected The Hague suspects.
Despite denials by Uhuru, Mudavadi’s insiders believe their man got into his alliance because of the promise he would be the compromise candidate. Whether Uhuru will step aside for Mudavadi ahead of Tuesday nominations remains to be seen. But even as the clock ticked, the coalition’s joint committee was working on the modalities of the mini-election to pick the Jubilee flag-bearer.
An MP close to Uhuru said one of the conditions was for Mudavadi to contest on TNA ticket adding that Kenyatta’s problem was fear of rebellion against his exit from his strongholds.
“Uhuru may be determined to support Mudavadi but some forces from his TNA are not willing to accept it. He has asked for more time to consult,” the source added.
Confuse voters
Agriculture Assistant Minister Kareke Mbiuki revealed: “We are asking Mudavadi to run on our TNA party because we have a huge support base and we do not want to confuse the voters especially in Mount Kenya, which might, as a result, suffer voter apathy.”
“We are not opposed to a Mudavadi candidature, the problem is how it was sold to us. But we are ready to work with him as long as TNA is compensated with more percentage in the alliance,” he said.
Last Thursday, a strong statement from 40 MPs allied to TNA demanded Uhuru must run for president.
Tuesday, an official from Mudavadi’s camp dismissed the alleged offer as “crazy” and said they had not received such an offer from TNA or any other party in the coalition.
“We signed the accord and what they are saying was not part of it. So treat it as another cheap rumour that we will not listen to,” said the UDF official.
The revelation that Mudavadi could be given the ticket is said to have motivated Ngilu to quit the Cord alliance, hoping Jubilee could settle on her as a running mate.
Morale to supporters
UDF Secretary General Dan Ameyo said whichever party the candidate came from was not important because they were in a coalition and therefore worked as team.
Mbiuki said TNA would be asking for 60 per cent of government if the coalition wants us to cede the presidential slot to UDF.
“We are now asking for 60 per cent of government to appease our supporters because TNA has a wide support base and therefore need something better to give morale to its supporters,” said Mbiuki.
Ngilu’s reason for ditching Cord for Jubilee coalition was that Cord had denied her an opportunity to hold joint presidential nomination.
Cord comprises of ODM, Wiper, Ford-Kenya and 11 other parties.
TNA-UDF-TNA agreed to send 20 delegates each, from each of the 47 counties to take part in the nominations. Last night, it was not clear if this number would be expanded to accommodate Narc delegates.
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