By Francis Ngige

Despite their professed support for Uhuru Kenyatta as their preferred presidential candidate, political leaders in Central Kenya continue to pull in different directions.

The 10 parties already cleared by the Political Parties Registrar and which are active in the region have spun confusion despite leaders calling for unity.

The emergence of over 10 political parties that have so far complied with Political Parties Act requirements has thrown the electorate into a spin of confusion. Mathira MP Ephraim Maina who is the Central Kenya Parliamentary Group Chairman, said although it would have been ideal for the region to subscribe to one party, it is unlikely to become reality.

“It would have been ideal for all of us to be in (under) one roof, but going by the trends witnessed in the current political scenario, it (we are) highly unlike to achieve that,” said Maina.

That leaves Central Kenya with Uhuru Kenyatta’s The National Alliance (TNA), Prof George Saitoti’s Party of National Unity (PNU), Martha Karua’s Narc Kenya, Kiraitu Murungi’s Alliance Party of Kenya and Mutava Musyimi’s Democratic Party.

Musalia Mudavadi’s United Democratic Forum (UDF) is also heavily anchored in the region with several MPs holding key positions.

emained defiant

Other parties include Mwangi Kiunjuri’s Grand National Union (GNU), Peter Kenneth’s Kenya National Congress (KNC), Paul Muite’s Safina and ODM, which is fronted by MPs working closely with Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Many thought that with Uhuru presenting TNA as his political vehicle, many politicians in different parties would troop to the new outfit. But even some politicians allied to him have remained defiant, saying they would not abandon their parties in favour of TNA.

On the other hand, the DPM’s supporters have told politicians from the region not in TNA to start writing their political obituaries.

After the mega launch of TNA at an elaborate ceremony at KICC a fortnight ago, Alliance Party of Kenya (APK), also associated with politician from the region, was officially unveiled a week later.

The Kiraitu Murungi-led party, whose symbol is a bus, said it was looking for a “driver” among Uhuru, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Cabinet Minister George Saitoti.

Also involved in the political arithmetic is GNU whose activities are being coordinated by Kiunjuri and former Mathira MP Nderitu Gachagua. Apart from the parties associated with Uhuru, Gichugu MP Martha Karua’s Narc-Kenya is still visible in the region with a considerable number of people following it.

Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth, closely associated with Kenya National Congress (KNC), has also been touted as a strong challenger of Uhuru.

elusive unity

On Tuesday, politicians from across the political divide conceded that the much talked about unity had become elusive and was likely to work against the region.

Maina, who has been actively involved in APK, said the initial formation of the party was to bring everyone under one roof.

Mwea MP Peter Gitau said that for the region not to lose its momentum in the race to succeed President Kibaki, everyone must rally behind Uhuru.

“Since we have all accepted that Uhuru is our leader, the best thing for all of us is to join TNA and fight for our seats within this party,” said Gitau.

The MP noted that the region is likely to suffer the same problem PNU suffered in 2007 where it only managed on 48 seats, yet Kibaki had gotten majority of votes from the region.

“We were expecting that apart from Karua’s Narc Kenya and Kenneth’s Kenya National Congress, the rest of the region will be in one party steered by Uhuru,” said Gitau.

Kiunjuri, on the other hand, has insisted that apart from the presidency, GNU will field candidates in all other seats in the coming elections.

“We have said as a party we are supporting Uhuru and we are not in any competition with TNA. Uhuru enjoys massive support and we are also behind his candidature,” said Kiunjuri.

But it appears that the parties behind the DPM are ready for a showdown with close allies of Uhuru warning that those not in TNA are headed for political oblivion.

Led by Local Government assistant minister Lewis Nguyai, they challenged the leaders to dissolve their parties or watch their political obituaries written at rallies TNA plans to hold in the region.

Speaking while launching a football match in Ol-Kalou, organised by politician David Kiaraho, Nguyai said TNA would only stomach New Ford Kenya and United Republican Party (URP) to retaining their identities, but all others must be dissolved.

“Some are saying they are in the GNU, UDF and PNU Alliance and they are supporting Uhuru Kenyatta. They also say they are searching for their own MPs, but we wonder where Uhuru will get his numbers when he becomes the President,” said Nguyai.

handful of MPs

Nguyai said if the situation continues, the region would see a repeat of the 2007 polls where Kibaki only had a handful of MPs in PNU.

“We are saying never again. We better elect dogs that will be barking to the tune of TNA in Parliament than these leaders. We want TNA leadership from county representatives to the President,” he said.

Assistant minister Kareke Mbiuki, a close ally of Uhuru, said TNA is the party to beat and all leaders in the region should join it.