Kiraitu reinvents himself for 2012 comeback

By Gakuu Mathenge

As political realignments take shape, it seems one man keen on bouncing back to the limelight is Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi.

He has emerged as the champion of a new political outfit, the Progressive Democratic Movement (PDM) on which he expects to ride through into the 2012 General Election.

Since 2008, Kiraitu has been the most vocal advocate of what he calls "a large bus for 2012".

However, sources say cynicism abounds if Kiraitu assumes the face of PDM, owing to his party hopping history and waning credibility.

In 1992, Kiraitu went to Parliament on Ford-Kenya ticket, then under the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.

In the run-up to 1997, he defected from Ford-Kenya and joined President Kibaki’s Democratic Party. In 2002, he joined Narc then moved to PNU in 2007. He is now selling PDM for 2012.

In his Songs of My Beloved, a collection of poems published in 2006, the Energy Minister laments the betrayal of what he calls the ‘Children of Narc’.

"In the fog and darkness of lies, the casualties of folly and avarice, perpetually box each other out of the ring, as the vultures of the past lead the people through the noise and dust, on their way back to Egypt," he wrote, mourning the acrimonious falling out that killed the Narc dream.

But the Harvard educated lawyer and human rights defender has been accused of shedding crocodile tears.

He was part of the team that was accused of betraying the Memorandum of Understanding that gave birth to Narc, and which eventually led to its collapse.

Although Narc Chairperson Charity Ngilu had worked hard for the election of Kibaki in 2002, Kiraitu was part of a team that blocked Ngilu’s ambition to retain Narc’s chairmanship, leading to the registration of Narc-Kenya.

Weaken parties

The move that was seen as geared at isolating the Kitui Central MP, then affectionately known as Mama Rainbow, severely weakened Narc.

Kiraitu was then Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister, and the Registrar of Societies was under his docket.

This put his democratic credentials and values under scrutiny, and his record may return to haunt him as he tries to sell PDM.

Some see the creation of splinter parties to weaken mainstream parties as part of his legacy as Justice Minister. During his tenure, New Kanu and Narc-Kenya were registered, both viewed as motivated by less than honourable intentions.

The secret registration of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) by people who had nothing to do with the movement was also viewed as abuse of State power to subvert freedom of association and expression.

The moves triggered political intrigue and anxiety, leading to agitation for the Registrar of Political Parties to be removed from Sheria House, and domiciled under the Interim Independent Electoral Commission to shield it from political manipulation.

Old parties

Kiraitu is the chairman of PDM’s highest policy body, Central Committee, which brings together representatives of member parties.

Central Committee is just below the Supreme Council, in which sits party chairpersons George Saitoti, Samuel Poghisio and Uhuru Kenyatta.

According to political scientist Peter Kagwanja, who has close links in PNU, the new outfit is modelled on 1963 Kanu, Narc and African National Congress of South Africa.

"The defining feature of these political movements is being coalitions or alliances of different parties that have surrendered their rights to nominate civic and parliamentary candidates to the movement, while they convert into lobbies for the movement.

That is the difference between them and PNU, under which several affiliates have been known to nominate candidates in the same constituencies. It will not happen in PDM in the coming by-elections," says Prof Kagwanja.

Kanu was founded in 1961 as an alliance of Jomo Kenyatta’s Kikuyu Central Association, Tom Mboya’s National Convention Party and Jaramogi’s Luo Union, among others.

PDM ideals are lofty and ambitious: "PDM is aimed at providing the political platform and base for Vision 2030 and beyond. PDM aims at providing a political anchor to Vision 2030," Kagwanja said in an interview.

Unlike Kanu and ANC that have retained their identity for decades, PDM faces a Herculean task to overcome credibility gaps.