PNU drafts rules to nominate one presidential candidate

By Moses Njagih and Vitalis Kimutai

Three aspirants for PNU Alliance’s ticket in next presidential election took the first step towards fielding a single candidate by consenting to drafting of rules to guide joint nomination.

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta attended the Party of National Unity Alliance National Executive Council and Parliamentary Group meeting and endorsed the process where they agreed to the drawing of regulations for joint nomination.

Addressing the Press after the meeting the leaders said they had resolved to start grassroots recruitment of the Alliance’s membership and opening of the offices in the 47 counties. According to sources, the meeting also agreed on an election calendar, which is expected to start with grassroots polls on February 17, next year.

"The three endorsed joint nomination rules, which creates room for one of them to be picked without much acrimony in January," revealed a Member of Parliament who attended the meeting.

The meeting On Thursday came after Uhuru called a high-profile Kanu meeting in Naivasha last week to revamp the party, followed by Kalonzo’s ODM-Kenya changing its name to Wiper Democratic Party, and Eldoret North MP William Ruto’s United Democratic Movement meeting at Nyayo National Stadium on Wednesday.

The forum resolved to ensure that the rules, alongside other requirements, are filed with the Registrar of Political parties by January 9, when all parties are expected to comply with the new Political Parties Act.

Though Security Minister George Saitoti, the other presidential aspirant under the coalition, did not attend the meeting at the Alliance’s headquarters, Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi, the convenor of PNU Alliance, said he was part of the deal.

Saitoti works closely with Kiraitu and Trade Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere who were at the meeting alongside 20 PNU-affiliated MPs.

But even as the PNU Alliance leaders exuded confidence, sources told The Standard they faced a barrage of questions and demands that they must be ready to sacrifice their ambitions in the search for a single presidential candidate.

Manyatta MP Emilio Kathuri told the presidential hopefuls selfish political interests and blind ambitions were a stumbling block to their unity.

"You should all put your ambitions aside, embrace logic, and do a situational analysis that would enable you to come up with a single formidable presidential candidate," Kathuri said.

He said there should be a process to ensure that a strong candidate was picked as the presidential flag-bearer without necessarily subjecting them to countrywide nomination.

Secure the unity

"We do not want divisions after the nomination. We can put you in the same cooking pot and pick the best candidate even through consensus," Kathuri told the meeting.

Mathira MP Ephraim Maina said the Alliance should be careful not to replicate the confusion and problems realised in the 2007 nominations.

"We need to hit the ground running and engage the voters at the grassroots instead of hiding in cocoons. We are behind in the campaigns while our competitors are crisscrossing the country," Maina said.

Assistant Minister Peter Munya said intransigence among the presidential aspirants should be avoided to secure the unity of the Alliance after nomination.

Munya emphasised a transparent nomination would eliminate suspicion among the members and that individual and corporate membership of the Alliance be embraced.

Assistant Minister Ferdinand Waititu emphasised that there was need for unity of purpose devoid of suspicion among PNU Alliance members. He pitched for the establishment of an election board to ensure there will be transparency in the nomination.

Nominated MP Mohamed Affey (ODM-Kenya) said there should be a strong foundation for pre-election and post-election mergers and coalitions.

Uhuru is said to have told the meeting that he would be seeking to revitalise Kanu and conduct recruitment drives across the country. He said that affiliate parties should be strengthened so that they comply with the Political Parties Act, Election Act and Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act.

Leaders of the affiliate parties, he said, should not engage in rhetoric since they were equal partners and that a transparent nomination should be encouraged. Kalonzo, on the hand, said: "This country cannot afford anymore to make mistakes."

Kalonzo said it was paramount leaders of parties under the Alliance avoid political goofs, saying they must work towards winning the General Election.

"They year 2012 must be a victorious one for us. Though we are from different parties, we will engage in a brotherly and sisterly version to ensure we achieve our goal," he said.

Committed to success

"Our unity paid off in by-elections in Matuga, Kamukunji, Kirinyaga Central, Juja, and Kitutu-Chache. We should draw our strength from the experience. We should ensure we are united as we move forward to the New Year and beyond," Uhuru is said to have told the meeting.

Uhuru reportedly told the meeting that he was ready and willing to work with everybody as the country prepares for elections.

Kalonzo concurred, saying he was committed to success of the Alliance and that a working formula should be established. The Vice-President said a committee should be formed as soon as possible to deal with recruitment and coalition arrangements for the Alliance.

Mwakwere emphasised on the need for the Alliance’s members to work together, saying politics was about numbers.

He also said that the team should look for enough resources to mount massive campaigns countrywide and immediately roll out programmes to engage the electorate.

"The recruitment starts in January and will culminate in the elections for the Alliance," Kiraitu announced.

Uhuru said there was overwhelming willingness by the leaders of the affiliate parties to ensure the Alliance conforms to the requirements of the Political Parties’ Act, saying the measures have taken effect.

"We are keen and definitely must succeed in forming the next government. We confirmed our willingness to work together as we head to 2012 and that is what we are doing," said Uhuru.

Uhuru, who is also the Kanu chairman, defended his move to strengthen the Alliance, saying his party had agreed to work with other like-minded parties before the General Election.

"We may belong to different parties, but we share a common vision for this country, and that is why we have come together, even as we continue strengthening our parties," he said.

At the meeting, Maina who chairs the Central Kenya MPs Forum urged his colleagues from the region to rally behind the Alliance. He said they should use it as the vehicle to reach out to other Kenyans.

"We cannot afford to segregate ourselves. PNU Alliance gives us the best opportunity to reach out to other Kenyans," said Maina.

He warned that the region would lose if it went to elections as a divided house, with many fringe parties.