Nyambati joins others gunning for top seat

By Beauttah Omanga

Kitutu Masaba MP Walter Nyambati has declared his intentions to run for President come 2012, a move that will automatically fragment the divisions in the PNU Coalition.

Mr Nyambati, a first-time MP, said he has the backing of Gusii MPs from all political alignments and other leaders from outside his home region.

"I have been consulting with other leaders and I want to declare that I will be running for presidency on the National Labour Party Ticket," said Nyambati.

Nyambati is the NLK national chairman and said his party constitution was clear on who qualified to run for presidency on its ticket. "What we are lacking as a country is sound leadership and I believe I have what it takes," declared Nyambati.

The PNU side of the coalition is now a crowded combination as the numbers of politician s declaring interest to succeed President Kibaki swells by the day.

Variety of leaders

Besides the VP Kalonzo Musyoka, others who are eyeing the Presidency include Cabinet ministers Uhuru Kenyatta, George Saitoti, Martha Karua, and Kareke Mbiuki. Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth is also said to be thinking along the same lines.

Nyambati told The Standard yesterday his decision to go for the Presidency was as a result of the need to give Kenyans a wider variety of leaders to pick from. He said his leadership would be geared at making Kenya an industrialised nation devoid of dependency on foreign aid.

If he makes good his intentions, Nyambati will become the third politician from Kisii to gun for the Presidency, coming after the late George Anyona who vied on the KSC ticket in 1992.

Former Cabinet Minister Simeon Nyachae took Kisii by storm as he aggressively campaigned for the Presidency in 2002, coming third behind President Kibaki and Kanu’s Uhuru.

Nyachae through his Ford People party won all the 10 Kisii seats locking out all other parties.

Nyambati said he will not be forcing any leader from Kisii to support his dream, but let the public decide. He said even though he doesn’t have the resources as compared with other leaders who have declared similar interests, his campaign will be owned by Kenyans out for genuine leadership change.

 

 

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