By Francis Ngige
Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta is turning to political parties for a unity pact after talks with leaders hit a brick wall.
The Standard On Sunday has learnt that The National Alliance (TNA) is already working on a structured agreement between “friendly” parties to be deposited with Registrar of Political Parties before elections if a deal is reached.
Following the collapse of earlier talks championed by some political leaders, TNA is now negotiating with other political parties to create a formidable alliance with the force of parties not mere individuals.
Rounds of talks between TNA, GNU, Party of National Unity (PNU) and Alliance Party of Kenya have been going on and the parties are believed to be closing on a deal, according to a leaked Unity Pact Document.
The memorandum titled ‘Proposed Unity Pact for like-minded Political Parties’, envisages a situation where all the parties will have a structured pre-election agreement under which they would nominate candidates for various seats.
“As inter-parties negotiations take place in a process sanctioned by their individual parties, this should be geared towards constituting a unity pact that can be trusted to make critical decisions on the roadmap to the implementation of the unity pact.”
“The negotiation structures should not be circumvented for the sake of expediency or create unnecessary veils of secrecy. In order to have a win-win situation, it is essential that there is sufficient collaboration and accommodation,” the document explains.
Important deal
If the deal goes through, parties will have agreed on a specific formula through which they will name a presidential candidate, candidates for gubernatorial posts, the national assembly and the senate.
The document, whose authenticity has been verified, compares different scenarios through which the partner parties would work to maximise benefits on elections.
Yesterday, Uhuru’s spokesman Munyori Buku confirmed the DPM was keen on an agreement with political parties rather than just individuals.
“Uhuru wants to enter into a legal agreement with political parties through organs empowered to enter into such pacts,” Buku told The Standard On Sunday. He said the DPM wanted to avoid the 2007 scenario where Kibaki was voted overwhelmingly but was denied the numbers in Parliament as a result of different political parties sponsoring MPs.
“You need the numbers in Parliament to push the Government agenda. That is why the DPM wants structured talks that will ensure the same is achieved,” said Mr Buku.
Assistant minister Kareke Mbiuki also confirmed there were talks to support one presidential candidate.
“Although I have not seen the document, I can confirm the talks have been going on and the protocol is likely to be signed on Tuesday between party officials,” said Mbiuki.
He said the structured talks were necessitated by the need to involve party organs as opposed to individuals “some of whom are very unpopular even in their parties.”
“We are tired of these boardroom meetings in Nairobi which are held by individuals who have no blessings of their parties,” said the Nithi MP.
Another source familiar with the negotiations said Uhuru is unlikely to accept an alliance of individuals.
“He wants a deal through which all the parties are equal partners because we all have a shared vision for the country. He is not keen on putting personalities first,” said the source warning that the Narc Memorandum of Understanding ruptured because it was based on personalities.
According to the document, the stakeholders would agree on joint nominations at all levels, identify other like-minded political parties and draw them to the Unity Pact and run joint campaigns to popularise the deal.
The parties will constitute a common policy agenda on implementation of the Constitution, national and county issues, establish joint management structures and determine how membership to the Unity Pact shall be drawn.
Selecting aspirants
If it is adopted, the pact envisages a situation where the parties would present one candidate for presidentcy, National and County positions and finally work out how the parties in the Grand Alliance would be coordinated during the nomination.
Officials in TNA insisted Uhuru is keen to ensure the process would be transparent, as his party’s slogan is Umoja, Uchumi na Uwazi (Unity, Economy and Transparency).
“TNA conducts free and fair elections,” one of the official said, explaining that it was the only party that carried out a free and transparent nomination process in Kangema and Kajiado North constituencies.
“To achieve an overwhelming majority in the Presidential, National and County elections through building and consolidating unity among all like-minded political parties and establishing a strong Unity Pact with such parties while ensuring inclusiveness of all communities and setting up a strong party mechanism that can mount an effective national campaign programme,” the pact states.
It envisions bringing “together like-minded political parties” into two categories: Level ‘A’ parties without a presidential candidate and supporting Uhuru Kenyatta’s Presidential candidature or Level ‘B’ parties that includes friendly parties which may have presidential candidates.
It states the purpose of the arrangement, which might appear complicated, is to support a single presidential candidate.
