By Francis Ngige

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta launches what he hopes will be his vehicle to State House — The National Alliance — on Sunday and he plans to make the day grand and pompous.

To crown his battle to succeed President Kibaki and occupy the office whose first African occupant was his father, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Uhuru also plans to roll out his agenda for the country.

It will be the first time in his life that Uhuru will be crossing to another political party, completing the transition from Kanu, the Independence party which the larger Kenyatta family stuck to in the era of defections in the 1990s through to 2002. 

Schemers of the party that its founders want called TNA in the abbreviated versionare burning the midnight oil to ensure Uhuru starts off in a powerful way that will send a strong message across the country on his determination to capture the Presidency.

They also are not allowing his tribulations with the International Criminal Court (ICC) that has indicted him for crimes against humanity, and over which he is left with only one appeal, to dampen the spirit of the ‘big day’.

On Wednesday, party officials modestly insisted it was just the unveiling of the party and not the official launch of Uhuru’s presidential campaign. But the mobilisation of his supporters on mobile phone short text messaging and on the ground paints a different picture.

something different

TNA Secretary General Onyango Oloo said the party will be launching its programmes and “showing Kenyans how different we are from other parties.”

Oloo told The Standard: “Uhuru is not launching his presidential campaign at Kenyatta International Conference. We are just unveiling the party where he is expected to grace the occasion.”

He, however, added: “In the event that the DPM will announce TNA as his political vehicle, then the move will be welcomed.’’ 

Oloo confirmed that a number of presidential aspirants had been invited, but declined to give the names saying: “It will be good (for) you (to) wait and see those who will attend.”

But other sources said top Uhuru aides spent the whole day on Wednesday planning the launch.

According to a dispatch released by the organisers, the function has been described as the launch of TNA’s ‘I Believe Programme’.

After quitting Kanu, Uhuru indicated he was moving to TNA whose slogan is ‘I Believe -Tunaweza’.

Uhuru has been under pressure from Eldoret North MP William Ruto and other G7 Alliance leaders, who have vowed to stop Prime Minister Raila Odinga from taking over from Kibaki, to name his political vehicle to enable them engage in structured talks.

With the naming of TNA well ahead of time, the Gatundu South MP seems to be avoiding the 2007 fiasco that faced Kibaki when an array of parties backed his bid.

The Uhuru team revealed they are planning something different from other parties. Even journalists seeking to cover the event are being accredited beforehand. There will be no accreditation at the venue, the organisers have warned.

Those involved in the preparation for the launch revealed that all the G7 leaders have been invited.

A party official also confirmed Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, who recently ditched Raila’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), is also expected.

invite-only

The hype around the Uhuru launch has hit the grassroots with hundreds of people preparing to travel to Nairobi, although the organisers have insisted it will be on invitation only.

There are also preparations to stream the proceedings live on television, with event managers preparing for a site visit for TV engineers interested in the live feed at the KICC.

“Those interested in beaming the event live will get a brief from our production team on Saturday,” explained a dispatch from a liaison officer Machel Waikenda.

The official added: “Media rehearsals and general photo moment of the venue and pre-event press conference from the official event Media Centre will also be on Saturday.”

Gearing up for the launch are Uhuru’s supporters at the counties. Mobilisation teams have been formed to ensure they are in Nairobi on time. Among groups mobilising supporters to attend the launch is the Kikuyu Council of Elders, which has described the event as historical.

In a text message sent to numerous people, an official of the council Wachira Kiago said in Kikuyu dialect: “Nyumba ya Mumbi handu ya yaruma. Mweri 20, Hon Uhuru niakaruguria Kiama giake kuuria KICC. Umirai inyuoe tumunyite mbaru (The House of Mumbi, Uhuru will be launching his party on Sunday at KICC. Come all we support him)”.

gearing for launch

It continued: “Nao atumia wamugire ngemi. Tumira ndumiriri ino kwi andu othe (the women should ululate. Spread this message).”

A Kikuyu elder from Murang’a, Mr Benjamin Gachagua, said Uhuru supporters from the county had already finalised plans to travel to Nairobi.

“We are excited that from now on, Uhuru will have a party which all of us will subscribe to. We are hiring matatus to take us to Nairobi,” said Gachagua.

He confirmed having received the mobilisation message from Kiago.

An aide of Uhuru revealed there were attempts by people to have the function moved to Uhuru Park because of the number of people expected, but the plan was overruled.

“There has been a frenzy of activities as people seek to attend the launch and people were suggesting we move the venue but this is not possible. We will hold it at KICC,” said the aide.

Oloo said that after the launch, the party will hold public rallies in Nairobi and other counties, where Uhuru’s supporters will be able to show their solidarity with him.

“We know a lot of party supporters would like to be at KICC, but we want to tell them that a public rally will be held soon and people will be able to attend,” assured Oloo.