Leadership tussles throw Central politics into confusion

By Francis Ngige

With the expected retirement of President Kibaki in 2012, central Kenya leadership is limping without any strong figure to fill the vacuum.

Former Cabinet Minister Martha Karua’s spirited campaign to assert herself is yet to bear fruit and Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta’s apparent hope of emerging as the area’s political supremo has elicited resistance from some local MPs.

Leaders are concerned that while other regions have a central figure to rally them to a common political position, the region’s MPs have been moving like a flock without a shepherd.

Such important issues as the resettlement of IDPs, most who trace their ancestry from the region, have been left to fester without MPs taking a stand. One would have expected them to speak with one voice concerning the Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara Bill, which seeks seeks to have post-election suspects punished.

But they appear to be reading from a different script.

Considered a strong political bloc, Rift Valley has Agriculture Minister William Ruto as the rallying point. Prime Minister Raila Odinga reigns in Nyanza, Coast, Western, Nairobi, and parts of Rift Valley provinces, which are still ODM strongholds.

Central Kenya MPs Forum, which is chaired by Mathira MP Ephraim Maina, has failed to live up to expectation. Contacted, Maina admitted the region lacks a strong leader.

"The situation here is unique because there are several people with presidential ambitions. However, with time, we’ll see if we can bring them together to agree on one person," he said, in reference to rivalry among Uhuru, Karua and Internal Security Minister George Saitoti.

Maina said several meetings have been held to chart a way forward for the region, but these are yet to bear fruit, he said, in a telephone interview with The Standard on Sunday.

One group, which claims to have more than 10 MPs on its side, has declared ‘war’ on Uhuru, saying his plans for central Kenya leadership were heading in the wrong direction.

K-K Alliance

Led by Planning Assistant Minister Peter Kenneth, who is also the Gatanga MP, the group is particularly concerned over the so-called Kikuyu-Kalenjin (KK) alliance.

Although KK proponents say theirs is not a political outfit but one aimed at development and charting the right path for residents, Central Kenya MPs Forum reads political mischief.

The KK group, which has held a series of meetings in the region, coalesces under the banner Alliance for Development.

The MPs, together with leaders from other regions, have been traversing the province, preaching regional unity.

They have held meetings in Mathioya, Kandara, Maragwa and Runyenjes.

Maragwa MP Elias Mbau, who is Central Kenya MPs Forum convener, said efforts to have the region speak as one have not borne fruit.

And in a clear testimony that the group may have burnt bridges with Uhuru, Mbau said: "No one should live with the illusion he is the political leader or the spokesman of central Kenya people."

He added: "Since we have not met anywhere as central Kenya leaders and agreed so and so is our patron, let people not assume that since they hold high positions they are our leaders."

"What we don’t want to see is people assuming and arrogating themselves non-existent positions by virtue of history and inheritance," said Mbau.

One MP said those spearheading the KK alliance had not consulted local leaders, saying it was doomed to fail.

Kenneth declined an interview and instead referred The Standard on Sunday to Mbau.

Dividing locals

Next week, the group will be going to Omingo Magara’s South Mugirango constituency and is scheduled to head to Moyale afterwards.

"We are also working with people from other regions since we cannot work in isolation. But if the right time comes, we are going to state our political position," said Kandara MP Maina Kamau.

The MP said top on the agenda of the group was the resettlement of IDPs.

"The issue of IDPs is one thing that we see the Government is dragging its feet on. We have just had a meeting with the Prime Minister on the issue," he told The Standard on Sunday.

"Just point out any leader in Central who is capable of bringing together at least 10 MPs to discuss national issues. There is no one who is talking about the Imanyara Bill," said another MP from Murang’a, who did not with to be named.

But as the group strives to popularise itself in the province, politicians allied to Uhuru have claimed it is out to divide the locals.

A former MP allied to the Finance Minister claimed outsiders were using the group to divide Central Province ahead of 2012 General Election.