TNA to spend Sh1 billion on party nominations

By Wainaina Ndung’u

The National Alliance (TNA) estimates to use Sh1 billion during its primaries.

TNA chairman Johnson Sakaja said last evening that the nominations which are expected to be intense especially in the party’s strongholds of Central and Mt Kenya regions had to be free and fair” so as not to shake the party’s popularity.

Sakaja said TNA which has set its nominations date will seek to hold the exercise without mistakes then get into the motions of popularising its candidates to gain a head start over rivals.

Sakaja who spoke during the launch of the TNA Tetu constituency office at Wamagana near Nyeri town said the party will also set up seven-man nomination boards in all counties which will be approved by all parliamentary candidates.

The boards are to be composed of respected party members who are not interested in vying for elective seats. “These boards will advise the national nomination board and monitor the conduct of the returning officers appointed by the party,” said Sakaja.

Elsewhere, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta pledged to work with like-minded leaders in a bid to form the next Government.

Uhuru however warned against those who would want to divide them. “This is the beginning of the journey that will end in state House,” said Uhuru.

Uhuru was speaking in Kimuka, Ngong during the thanksgiving ceremony for new MP Moses ole Sakuda. Uhuru thanked the residents of Kajiado North for backing TNA and Sakuda. He pledged to work with Mr Sakuda to do all that is possible in the short time before the end of this parliamentary session.

Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa told foreigners to keep off the March elections and let Kenyans decide. He said former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has shown disrespect to Kenyans for attempting to influence who should or should not be elected.

“Kenyans have respected Annan but he has not reciprocated,” said Mr Wamalwa. Wamalwa compared foreigners’ attempts to bar Uhuru and Eldoret North MP William Ruto from vying for presidency to the colonialists who had called Jomo Kenyatta “a leader unto darkness”