Power: Parties take no chances ahead of 2012

By Stephen Makabila

Held together in a political marriage of convenience under the Grand Coalition Government umbrella, the country’s two political blocks are already in a state of unrest, as schemes and counter schemes for the 2012 contest take shape.

None of the two blocks is taking chances when it comes to manoeuvres to clinch power in a contest that is three years away, even as a section of the public feel other pressing issues, among them corruption and unfinished reforms have been relegated to the back burner.

While ODM, which had claimed its victory was stolen in 2007 has embarked on salvaging its grassroots support, PNU and ODM-Kenya have forged closer ties to form the Progressive Democratic Movement (PDM), launched in Naivasha over two weeks back.

Other parties have also not been left behind, with Kanu, Ford-Kenya, Narc-Kenya and the Democratic Party (DP) sending powerful signals of fielding their own presidential candidates in 2012.

"Politicians have put the country in an election mode. Their schemes for power come 2012 has clouded the reform agenda and we are unlikely to move on well if this scenario persists," said Kenya National Commission on Human Rights Vice-Chairman Hassan Omar.

According to Mr Omar, Kenyans should shift their focus to avoid political anxiety that can cloud fundamental reforms, which require to be undertaken.

Power games

"It is time we told politicians to stop their focus on 2012 and power games and deliver on what they were elected for in 2007. We art not yet mid-way the tenth Parliament’s lifespan." added Omar.

A section of church leaders had earlier also raised some concern over too much politicking and scheming for power at the expense of national healing.

The National Council of Churches of Kenya Secretary General Dr Peter Karanja and the Anglican Church of Kenya Archbishop Eliud Wabukala had urged politicians to make national healing a priority instead of politicking too much.

The church leaders had indicated that by politicians coming out in the open to scheme for power three years to an election year, the raw wounds created by post-election violence would be unlikely to heal.

"There should be a show of willingness on the part of politicians to promote national healing. They should put the interest of the country ahead of personal ambitions for power," said Dr Wabukala.

Back to grassroots

Since the start of this year, ODM party leader Raila Odinga has gone back to the grassroots to win support, starting with meetings in Nyanza, Western, North Eastern, South-Rift and Central Kenya.

Last weekend, the PM was in Western Province again, one of the party’s stronghold, to help maintain the massive support he enjoyed in 2007, but which is threatened by ambitions of several MPs eyeing the presidency from the province.

During one of the rallies in Butere on Sunday, Lands Minister James Orengo urged Western Province residents to support Raila as their preferred presidential candidate in 2012.

Differences between the PM and Agriculture minister William Ruto have also been of concern in the PM’s camp when it comes to their 2012 arithmetic.

Mr Ruto, who the previous week stated he was willing to work with President Kibaki, is a close ally of Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, who happens to be one of Kibaki’s confidants.

The Eldoret North MP who enjoys some political clout in Rift Valley Province has on several occasions indicated he must be in the presidential race come 2012, a scenario that may see him in an open fight for the country’s leadership with Raila.

Sharpening punches

On the other hand, PDM chairman Kiraitu Murungi has already termed the launch of the new movement, which to him shadows the Orange Party, as "sharpening the punches ahead of 2012 elections" showdown.

Together with Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and Internal Security Minister George Saitoti, Kiraitu says the new political instrument is readying itself for a duel with ODM and any other rivals.

The PM is expected to visit Ruto’s North-Rift backyard, Kalonzo’s Ukambani stronghold and Kiraitu’s larger Meru region soon.

The visits, just like those he has made in other places before, are likely to be for purposes of testing his popularity against the three rival regional power brokers.

Apart from shifting attention from burning national issues, political observers feel wrangles in a new outfit like PDM may add onto the already existing political confusion in the country, where no party is peaceful and free from internal wrangles.

Even before its formation, the PDM had sparked controversy that continues to rock it to date.

Kiraitu has indicated those from PNU who want to go it alone were free and PDM wishes them well. However, Kalonzo has vowed he will remain in the forefront in making PDM an outfit that will clinch the presidency in 2012.

The leadership of Kanu, Ford-Kenya and DP has indicated they were not party to the PDM outfit.