PNU plots new alliance but Kajwang dismisses it as a waste of time

By AUGUSTINE ODUOR and Kepher Otieno

President Kibaki's party is laying down a strategy on how to pick a torchbearer for the political outfit he rode on to secure a second term.

And on Saturday the three top leaders of the Party of National Unity (PNU) - Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Deputy Prime Minister, Uhuru Kenyatta, and Internal Security Minister, George Saitoti - attended a fund-raiser and rally in Ngong division where party stalwarts said they would present a single presidential candidate.

The leaders said they have decided to forge an alliance to unite Kenyans ahead of the 2012 General Election.

PNU Secretary General Kiraitu Murungi said for a long a coalition has been a dream and assured Kenyans this time they must emerge as one strong force.

"This is the time. We have tried for long in vain to unite them. Each time we try to build the coalition it collapses, but this time we mean business," he said.

There have been efforts by PNU strategists to include Gichugu MP, Martha Karua, of Narc-Kenya in the expected coalition. But yesterday, while Speaking at Mwiga High School in Kieni constituency, Karua dismissed plans by PNU leaders to include her in their bid for a single presidential candidate.

"I will not be party to such a deal for a single candidate from Central Province. Let all parties test their popularity for the presidency, and face voters at the ballot box," said Karua.

But speaking at a fundraising meeting at Ngong Catholic Church, Mr Uhuru (Kanu), Mr Kalonzo (ODM Kenya), and Prof Saitoti (PNU) said they would support one of them to take on other candidates in 2012.

Assistant Minister Joseph Nkaisery, however, told Kenyans to asked politicians to spend their time working to unite Kenyans.

"It is still early. We will talk about 2012 later. For now let us work. We will tell you which bus to board because for now we still do not know which bus will be bigger," he said.

In Kisumu, Immigration Minister, Otieno Kajwang’, who was with Prime Minister Raila Odinga dismissed the mooted PNU alliance as a non-starter.

He told a meeting in the lakeside town the alliance of Kalonzo, Saitoti, Uhuru and Eldoret North MP, William Ruto, may not work. Mr Kajwang’ and Kisumu Town West MP, Olago Aluoch, asked the presidential hopefuls to stop wasting time on unlikely alliances.

"There is no way Uhuru or Kalonzo and Ruto would step down in favour of the other to run for the president," said Kajwang’.

Grassroots support

He spoke at a wedding for Elija Oburu, the fourth born of Finance Assistant Minister, Oburu Odinga, at the Nyanza Golf Club, Kisumu.

ODM leaders said they would remain focused in rebuilding the party by fortifying its grassroots support.

At the same time, Kajwang’ and Olago criticised the VP for allegedly making reckless statements on ICC.

"The statement made by the VP in Mosoriot last week was wrong and is tantamount to sliding the country back to anarchy," said Olago.

The Prime Minister, who attended the occasion with his wife, Ida, steered clear of politics. In Ngong, Assistant Minister, Kareke Mbiuki, called on Uhuru, Kalonzo and Saitoti to go for a PNU presidential nomination and let the best among them be the torchbearer.

Embakasi MP, Ferdinand Waititu, asked the leaders to agree and give a single flag bearer. "We will lock you up until you give us a flag bearer," he said. Saitoti, who is also the Internal Security minister, said next year Kenyans expect to see a unified force walking together.

"Go for Christmas but when you come back, open your eyes," he said. Defence Minister, Yusuf Haji, Trade Miniser, Chirau Ali Mwakwere, MPs Johnstone Muthama, and Dickson Mbugua, among others, attended the meeting. Earlier, Muslim leaders led By Mvita MP, Najib Balala, and his Matuga counterpart, Mwakwere, announced they would come up with their own political outfit for 2012 elections. They announced Muslims would have their own political vehicle to ensure they are a force in the Kibaki succession. The two, who were attending the Sixth Annual National Convention organised by the National Muslim Leaders Forum at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi yesterday, however, insisted they do not intend to form an Islamic party.

"If there are alliances of tribes, why not Muslims? As Muslims we do not have tribes," Balala, who is the Tourism minister, said.

The Minister for Defence Minister, Yusufu Haji, Nominated MP, Sheikh Mohammad Dor, and Mandera East MP, Abdikadir Mohamed also attended the meeting.

Balala said: "We want to be in future coalitions. There is no single community or leader that can lead the country alone," he said.