Kanu faults exclusion of Moi, Raila from peace rally

By Vitalis Kimutai and Peter Mutai

Kanu leaders have hit out at organisers of last week’s peace rally in Eldoret for excluding former President Moi and Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Kanu secretary general Nick Salat claimed that the exclusion of Moi and the premier shows that the rally had a hidden agenda.

Mr Salat said although the former ruling party appreciates the need for preaching peace and reconciliation among various ethnic communities living in Rift Valley, the exclusion of other key leaders will not help in the healing process.

Speaking at the weekend during a church service at Litein High School sports ground that was attended by former President Moi, Salat said peace meetings would bear fruits if all leaders and stakeholders are involved.

"We are calling on President Kibaki to work closely with his predecessor and the Prime Minister in spearheading peace efforts and reconciliation among Kenyans for peace efforts to bear fruits," he added.

The function was attended by Roads Minister Franklin Bett, former MPs and Kanu leaders Paul Sang, John Koech, Noah Too and Coast Kanu National Executive Council representative Abdurrahman Bafadhil among others. Salat said the formation of tribal political alliances such as KKK would cause division and disunity among peace loving Kenyans.

"Leaders spearheading formation of tribal political alliances are preaching tribalism. We want leaders who will unite all Kenyans for the sake of peace and development," the former Bomet MP added. Sang said it will not augur well for the Kalenjin community to enter into tribal political alliances with other communities and yet their leaders were divided.

National unity

Meanwhile, Kanu leaders have disowned the KKK alliance saying tribal political outfits were a threat to national unity and should be discouraged. Mr Nick Salat, the party’s Secretary General and former assistant Minister Joseph Kimkung separately said Kanu would not be dragged into alliances that divide the people instead of uniting them.

Salat and Kimkung said Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta’s position that the party would be joining the PNU Alliance was not only misleading but a personal statement.

"The position taken by Uhuru is personal and is not binding to the party. After all, he is not an official as he is in the Cabinet," Salat said.

Salat said Uhuru had since been replaced as the party chairman and his position taken by former Baringo Central MP Gideon Moi in line with the Political Parties’ Act which bars people serving in Government from holding party positions.

"We are an independent political party and as such we can not propagate ideals of other parties. Taking that position would be against the Political Parties Act," Salat told The Standard on telephone.