Kalonzo’s top seat bid causes ripples in PNU

By Martin Mutua and Francis Ngige

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka’s stated intentto mobilise support within Central, Rift Valley and Eastern provinces for a formidable alliance ahead of the 2012 General Election seems to have stirred the hornet’s nest.

The statement not only rocked leaders from other parts of the country, but has also caused ripples within the Party of National Unity (PNU), which Kalonzo seeks to use as his platform for his presidential ambitions.

After a fortnight of criticisms from all quarters including Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Water minister Charity Ngilu, the gears have now shifted within PNU.

Internal Security Minister George Saitoti, the PNU chairman who, pundits say, has vowed that his name will be on the ballot box as a presidential candidate, seems to have received a wake-up call from the VP by taking the gauntlet and throwing himself in the ring.

Prof Saitoti, who together with Assistant Minister Peter Kenneth, another PNU member said to be quietly harbouring presidential ambitions but has not made them public, congregated at the weekend in Central Province to counter Kalonzo’s first break that seemed to have gotten them unawares.

Coming amidst reports that his position at the helm of PNU was precarious, Saitoti made a political statement that he was also there to watch.

Plotting a coup

And Kenneth used the opportunity to endear himself to Saitoti by denying media reports quoting PNU legal affairs Vice Chairman George Nyamweya that some party officials and MPs were plotting a coup and he was the likely beneficiary.

"I have heard some people saying that I will soon be taking over from you (Saitoti) as party leader. I know some people want to create a rift between us," Kenneth said at the weekend.

Last week, Mr Nyamweya gave a strong hint that all was not well and indeed a section of the party staunch supporters were keen on having Saitoti replaced.

"Nobody is fighting the party chairman, but we are fearing that unless we get new blood with new ideas, we will be in for a big shock come 2012," said Nyamweya. His fears were also confirmed by party Vice Chairman Noah Wekesa, who said there was need to "seriously rejuvenate the party if it is to make any impact in the 2012 election".

"We must not be contented with the key players who were on the scene in 2007. If we go with the same players without thinking outside that box, then I am worried, we might not even perform as we did in ensuring President Kibaki won the presidency," said the Wildlife minister.

Leadership crisis

Unlike in the Orange Democratic Party (ODM) where Prime Minister Raila Odinga is the party leader and automatic presidential candidate, PNU is faced with a leadership crisis as to who would be the party’s torchbearer in 2012.

President Kibaki, who was the party’s presidential candidate in the last General Election, is serving his second and final controversial term following the 2007 disputed presidential polls that later gave birth to the Grand Coalition Government.

Apart from Kalonzo and Saitoti, it seems an all Central Province affair for those eyeing the PNU ticket. They include Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, and Kenneth.

In the province, Kalonzo has been viewed as a hero for agreeing to work with President Kibaki when his presidency appeared to be in a crisis following the disputed 2007 presidential polls.

new alliances

His story was that of a hero rejected at home and honoured elsewhere, since he was more popular in Central Province than his native Ukambani.

But as time draws near to the next polls, the momentum seems to be slowing down and that is what has given rise to the new alliances that are currently forming in the province. A group of MPs have been coalescing around Kenneth while another is vouching for Uhuru, who is believed to be working with the VP.

There is also the fact that Raila is also making in-roads in the province that earlier seemed to be beyond his reach.

However, some MPs in Central feel Kalonzo’s popularity has gone down as a result of behind-the-scenes manouvres by some politicians who want to edge him out of the succession equation.

A legislator, who declined to be named, said the move involves curtailing the influence of Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi in the Mt Kenya politics. It is believed that Kiraitu has been keen on introducing Kalonzo as the possible Kibaki successor.

Wider consultation

"Kiraitu is seen as being behind Kalonzo’s bid and some PNU leaders felt that the drive (to sell Kalonzo) has gone unusually fast without consultation," said the MP from Kirinyaga.

He said those behind the move think that the procedure of picking a suitable Kibaki successor should be all-inclusive and involve wider consultation.

Opinion among local leaders has been divided over who from the region would fit in Kibaki’s shoes, once he calls it a day at the expiry of his constitutionally mandated period.

Mwea MP Peter Gitau said for the past few months the popularity of the VP had slightly gone down due to the dynamism of politics.

Mr Gitau said there were higher expectations among the local people that the VP was able to unite the province, "but it seems that the fire he had has been lost".

National figure

"Maybe he will come out stronger later, but the tempo has gone down as Central Kenya people have started reaching out to other people," said Gitau.

He said Raila and Agriculture Minister William Ruto are being received well in the province, a sign that the political scene has been drastically altered.

An MP from Kiambu who is an admirer and supporter of Kalonzo said although Kalonzo’s popularity in the Mt Kenya region appears to have waned, it would be foolhardy to write him off in the presidential race.

"In my considered opinion, Kalonzo would cut a more national figure than any of those who would compete with him in the region now that Uhuru appears to have taken a back seat," said the MP, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The first time legislator said if Uhuru would be out of the equation in 2012, then Kalonzo would have the benefit of enjoying the Mt Kenya votes, no matter who else from the province vies for the presidency.

He added: "It is too early to start talking about succession matters now, but I believe Kalonzo is in a vantage position to be among the front runners. But politics, they say, is very dynamic and you cannot know what will happen in future."

Last week Kalonzo got a major boost when a key ally of President Kibaki and Environment Minister John Michuki seemed to be throwing his weight behind the VP.

Mr Michuki who hosted Kalonzo in Murang’a last week said the people of Central Province should appreciate the role Kalonzo played in assisting the Kibaki presidency.

"The VP is growing in popularity that is why you see people running scared accusing him of premature campaigns. If I were Kalonzo, I would have allowed them to talk much about me as they would be campaigning for me," said Michuki.

Limuru MP Peter Mwathi, also a Kalonzo ally, said the VP was still the man to beat in the race to capture the Central Kenya vote.

Mr Mwathi said since Kalonzo had a good working relationship with Uhuru, the bond, if maintained, would be a plus for him in the succession battle.

"His popularity has not waned at all, everywhere I have accompanied him within the province, the VP has received a rousing welcome," said the MP.

Good things

He added: "The other day we were in Murang’a where the VP received a tumultuous welcome and the local MPs’ reception for Kenneth, who is also viewed as a possible presidential candidate, was very cold."

And in a recent visit to the province, Kangundo’s Johnston Muthama who was in Kalonzo’s entourage said politics had started taking shape and predicted that the VP was destined for good things.

Muthama, the deputy Government Chief Whip, urged the Central Kenya people "not to let us down when the time comes".

"It is high time that the river returned to its course and we talk in one voice," Muthama told a meeting.

—Additional reporting by Beauttah Omanga