By ATHMAN AMRAN

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta’s decade at the helm of Kanu has ended after First Vice Chairman Gideon Moi took over as interim chairman.

The uncontested coup was staged on Saturday at a meeting of the party’s top decision-making organ at Kasarani in Nairobi.

Former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga (left) greets Kanu Interim Chairman Gideon Moi during a Special National Delegates Conference at the Kasarani Gymnasium on Saturday. Seated is Naivasha MP John Mututho. [PHOTO: COLLINS KWEYU/STANDARD]

Uhuru skipped the meeting claiming the rival faction had convened it illegally. The takeover was executed immediately the 52-year-old party’s special National Delegates Conference at the Moi International Sports Centre’s Kasarani gymnasium endorsed new party laws to comply with the Kenya Constitution and the Political Parties Act 2011.

This is required before a party obtains full registration. The Independence party is rushing against time to comply ahead of the April 30 deadline if it is to take part in the next General Election.

During the meeting, Uhuru’s seat as chairman was reserved until after the delegates from across the country passed a resolution to dissolve the past leadership and replace it with interim officials. Party Secretary General Nick Salat, who was the master of ceremonies, noted that the resolutions had to be signed by the Chairman, who he indicated was absent.

By a show of hands, Gideon was unanimously endorsed to take over Uhuru’s seat and sign the resolutions on behalf of the party. This prompted Mr Salat to motion the former Baringo Central MP to occupy the seat reserved for the party chairman.

Empty chair

"Sasa hicho kiti ambacho hakina mwenyewe nenda keti hapo (You can now occupy the vacant seat)," Mr Salat declared amid applause. Gideon then moved from his seat as Vice-chairman to the empty chair and signed the new Kanu resolutions.

Naivasha MP John Mututho, who said the NDC was lawfully held, was the only one of Kanu’s elected and nominated MPs to show up. The party has 13 MPs, three of them also Cabinet ministers. He defended Uhuru who he said was "faced with lots of problems" and aroused murmurs from the hall when he referred to him as "our Kanu hero".

"We want him to be the Kanu presidential candidate," he said, arguing that Uhuru has been a man of peace. Salat, however, quipped that Uhuru could only be the party’s presidential candidate if he was in Kanu. "Only in Kanu and not outside Kanu," Salat said.

Uhuru’s Director of Communication Munyori Buku declined to comment on the developments. But Muturi, who did not attend the NDC, wished the party well.

"The law has to be followed and if they have followed the law then that is okay," he said adding that he did not want to comment further.

After taking over, Gideon said he was humbled and privileged for being entrusted with the party interim chairmanship. He also wished Uhuru all the best adding that he will continue to pray for him.

"It is not our work to abuse others. We wish Uhuru all the best," Gideon said.

He said the party has no grudges against anyone but wants to continue its work with civility. Gideon assured party members that he would ensure the party will survive to conduct its grassroots election in two months’ time and it would be even stronger than now.


The new interim chairman said that the party had wandered in the wilderness without a leader and it was upon the members to choose who should steer them towards the General Election.

"Do we keep wandering in the desert? Or do we have the courage to cross the river to the promised land of election victory? We must change or die as a party," Gideon said.

He said the party called for the NDC to ensure it fulfills all its legal obligations to participate in the coming elections. "Now it is time to reconcile and put divisions behind us," Gideon said.

Party constitution

He added that by voting for the new party constitution the delegates had voted for a new Kanu and it was now time for members not to ask what Kanu can do for them but what they can do for Kanu.

Before the party endorsed the constitution some delegates from Nairobi had opposed the move claiming the National Executive Committee had had not given the delegates the copies seven days prior to the NDC. They temporarily disrupted the meeting by shouting "Haki Yetu (Our right)!" but other delegates shouted them down.

They, however, soon sneaked out of the hall as former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga walked in with his supporters, allowing the group to take their seats. Others who attended the NDC were former nominated MP Ezekiel Barg’entuny, who brought greetings from retired President Moi, and Teresia Kirima, the widow of former Nairobi Kanu chairman Gerishon Kirima.

Salat said Kanu has already complied with the Political Parties Act as it has members in 31 of the 47 Counties, which he said are in all the eight regions.

He said the party was bigger than any one person and challenged those who were absent from the NDC to prepare to answer where they were when others were trying to save Kanu.

"We have now only ten days for the party to be deregistered if we do not comply and there are some people who want us to be locked out," Salat said.

He said they had to use Article 13 2c of the constitution to force the holding of the NDC to save the party after four postponements.

The party resolved that the Kanu Constitution 2012 takes effect immediately and that the interim national officials should take charge to conduct the party’s grassroots and national elections within the next two months.

The interim officials are also to ensure the party is registered as per requirements of the Political Parties Act and spearhead the recruitment of new members.

The new officials will also be in charge or reorganising, revamping and rebranding of Kanu, among other tasks.