Uhuru to name his new home but not Kanu

By Vitalis Kimutai

It is almost certain Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta won’t be leading chants of Jogoo! Jogoo! and Kanu&searchbutton=SEARCH'> Kanu’s one-finger salute any more.

On Saturday a parallel wing of the Independence party, that counts among its founders his father and Kenya’s first President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, convenes a special National Delegates Conference (NDC) at whose end it is expected Uhuru would be replaced as party chairman.

What is significant is that despite the notices for the meeting, Uhuru has, unlike in the past, not put up a fight or showed interest in any.

The symbolism of the event for Kanu&searchbutton=SEARCH'> Kanu is discernible from the fact that the meeting at Moi International Sports Complex, Kasarani, will come just about two weeks before the window closes for political parties to comply with the new Political Parties Act.

With 18 days to go before this deadline, sources within the DPM’s circle confided in The Standard that it is true that plans have been finalised for Uhuru to leave Kanu&searchbutton=SEARCH'> Kanu. He has been party chairman, a position he took over from retired President Moi in 2003.

"I can assure you that we are past that issue. The only thing remaining is Uhuru announcing the party on whose ticket he would running for president," said a close confidant of Uhuru.

All indications are that Uhuru will move to the National Alliance Party of Kenya (NAPK), taken over from businessman Nginyo Kariuki last month.

The Saturday Kanu&searchbutton=SEARCH'> Kanu NDC has been called by a section of National Executive Council (NEC) members led by Vice- chairman Gideon Moi, and Secretary General Nick Salat.

Slowed growth

Gideon and Salat are said to be of the opinion that Uhuru has slowed Kanu&searchbutton=SEARCH'> Kanu’s growth by technically remaining its leader on paper, but doing little to market or build it.

This way, they argue, he turned Kanu&searchbutton=SEARCH'> Kanu into a diminishing asset. But they now say they are out to rebuild the party.

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