PNU roots for executive president

By Mutinda Mwanzia and Patrick Muriungi

The Party of National Unity has said it will support an executive President in the new constitution.

Secretary-General Kiraitu Murungi, however, said the party would initiate dialogue with ODM to ensure that hard line positions do not derail the review.

"We as a party want to avoid any confrontation on contentious issues that may be used to derail the process," said Mr Kiraitu.

Speaking to journalists after a PNU meeting in Nairobi, Kiraitu said on Tuesday the party was also likely to support a constitution that allows the President to share some of the executive powers with the Prime Minister.

Residents impoverished

Separately, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka called for the disarmament of pastoralists in upper Eastern Province to deal with rising cases of cattle rustling.

Speaking in Meru North, Mr Kalonzo said presence of weapons fuelled cattle rustling.

He was responding to a petition by Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi and his Imenti North colleague Silas Muriuki who decried the high rate of cattle rustling in Meru North by armed raiders from Samburu and Isiolo.

Mr Linturi said most of the residents had become poor following theft of their livestock.

Said he: "We voted for this Government but we are still suffering. The Government should disarm our neighbours or give us arms so that we can defend ourselves."

Muriuki and Linturi called on their "Kikuyu cousins" to support one of their own.

And in response, Central Kenya Parliamentary Group chairman Ephraim Maina and Limuru MP Peter Mwathi said there was need to support the region since its people "have been loyal" to the President whose term ends in 2012.

Mr Mbiuki praised Kalonzo, who was the chief guest at the function to raise funds for Nthare Catholic Church as "the person who saved Kibaki Government in the hour of need".

"The hour has come. Let Central Province speak and tell us if they will support us," said Mr Mbiuki.

Mr Maina said Central Province would support a candidate from Eastern if the candidate had good leadership qualities.