Saitoti is a man under siege in PNU

By Oscar Obonyo

Like the proverbial toad in Igbo folklore, Internal Security Minister, George Saitoti, has crawled out of his political hideout and is hopping with rage.

According to Nigeria’s celebrated author Chinua Achebe, "Whenever you see a toad jumping in broad daylight, then know that something is after its life."

Indeed, there is a strong pointer that some forces may be after the PNU chairman’s political life.

Only last week, PNU Legal Affairs Secretary George Nyamweya hinted that plans were afoot to replace Saitoti as party chairman. Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka aggravated the situation by suggesting he would lead the PNU campaigns in the 2012 General Election.

The usually composed Saitoti is fighting back. Maintaining he is the party leader, the Kajiado North MP warns parliamentary colleagues against speculating on PNU’s poll agenda, including its probable political allies in the 2012 General Election.

Understandable rage

Saitoti’s rage is understandable. Having served as Vice-President for 13 years, before being unceremoniously axed from Government in 2002, Saitoti was just plotting for a high-profile political comeback.

Having bagged the leadership of PNU — President Kibaki’s 2007 poll’s vehicle — the seasoned politician was simply marking time for ‘bigger things’, when Kalonzo and company rudely interrupted.

"I have nothing personal against Saitoti, nonetheless PNU allied MPs have a right to be agitated because our party leaders are not keen on popularising the party," Nyamweya told The Standard on Sunday.

The Nominated MP accuses Saitoti and other leaders of PNU affiliates of going silent, and not taking a common stand on critical issues, including, The Hague question, leadership of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, and the constitutional review.

"Our party leaders are simply burying their heads in the sand, and we all risk being hanged separately," warns the PNU official.

Nothing explains the folly of PNU’s disunity than the instance of the Bomachoge by-election in August. PNU affiliates jointly garnered 18,338 votes, but still lost to the ODM candidate, Simon Ogari, who had 14,788 votes.

While ODM registered a resounding victory in the other by-election in Shinyalu, Bomachoge is instructive, considering that PNU lost the seat it won in the 2007 General Election to ODM.

Those who support Kalonzo’s forays, argue the VP is doing what Saitoti and group has shied away from — popularising PNU ahead of 2012. Kalonzo is leader of ODM-Kenya, a PNU affiliate.

But Saitoti views Kalonzo’s moves suspiciously. Already, civic leaders from the former VP’s backyard have confided in The Standard on Sunday that "this time around Saitoti will not throw in the towel".

In terms of political profile, experience and even biological age, Saitoti stands out as of the senior-most politician in PNU — a factor that places him in the Kibaki succession frontline.

Quest for presidency

Some feel Saitoti’s quest for president is long overdue. In an interview with this writer shortly before the 2007 General Election, former Mathioya MP and one-time ally Joseph Kamotho, for instance, castigated Saitoti for "postponing his presidential ambitions".

"When somebody is in his 60s, it is not wise to plan to vie for the presidency in 2012. Presidents are becoming younger every day. Saitoti should stop playing sycophant. Why would a man who is 60 postpone his ambition to please another?" Kamotho asked.

Now the pressure on the former VP is even more. Will he succeed to make it to the ballot paper on a PNU ticket or will the Kalonzo-led forces elbow him out?

A civic leader from Kajiado North says that Saitoti "may do a Ngilu". This is a reference to Water Minister and Narc party leader, Charity Ngilu, who declined to allow President Kibaki to seek re-election on the party’s ticket, thereby throwing the Kibaki campaigns into confusion.

But Nyamweya reacts: "We are not going to allow ourselves to do things at the last moment, as was the case in 2007.

Right positions

"We all know that Kibaki will be going home in three years. Is it wrong for those of us who will be remaining in PNU to ask ourselves how we shall proceed after his exit?"

Even in the current crisis, Saitoti seems to be walking alone. As well as Nyamweya, Saitoti’s vice-chairman, Wildlife and Forestry Minister, Noah Wekesa and Secretary General and Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi are pulling in different directions.

However, Nambale MP Chris Okemo describes Saitoti’s style as a good strategy of "say nothing, annoy no one, and therefore make no political enemies".

"Besides, his Internal Security docket is a plateful and Saitoti has little time to politic," says the former Cabinet minister.

Yet still, nobody knows for sure whether the ever tight-lipped Saitoti is at pains to quit, yet again.

As Achebe puts it, "every lizard lies on its belly, so we cannot tell which has a belly-ache".