KIRAITU ON PDM

Progressive Democratic Movement interim Chairman Kiraitu Murungi calls the launch of new political outfit shadowing Orange Party the ‘sharpening of punches’ ahead of 2012 elections’ showdown.

Asked if the story of PDM was not analogically similar to that of pouring new wine in old wineskins, largely because the party could change but the players and their practices might not change, Kiraitu responded: "Those are words of our opponents. We do not expect kind words from them. We want to rejuvenate the party through the movement and that is why we chose the eagle as our symbol. It flies high, sheds its feathers and we have carefully chosen ideology."

Together with Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, he says the new political instrument is readying itself for political duel with ODM and any other rivals. The movement consists largely of parties who supported Kibaki in 2007 polls and Kiraitu explains why they picked on Kibaki to be its leader: "He is a unifying factor. He is not our candidate for the law bars him from running in 2012 but he can be party leader."

The energy minister who declared he has no presidential ambition said it was a non-issue that the new wearer of President Kibaki’s Party of National Unity’s shoes seems to have copied Orange Democratic Movement.

"ODM has no monopoly over movements or party structures. They were not the first to form a movement. Narc and Ford were also movements."

He added: "The time to consolidate is now. Democracy in Africa is maturing. We started with one party, then multi-party where everybody wanted to have his party and I see Kenyan moving towards two or three strong parties. Our movement is in that direction."

He added: "We want to be critical drivers of economic and political reforms. We want to put in place powerful political machinery, which will lead Kenyans on the path to democracy and prosperity."

The Energy minister explained the movement was concerned the political calendar was midway to 2012 General Election even as PNU forces were badly scattered. "It is an inevitable move and we are sharpening our punches," Kiraitu said.

"It is time to reunite and focus our team into a strong one and operationalise effective machinery to capture and retain power in 2012," Kiraitu said.

PDM brought together PNU bigwigs among them Kalonzo, Deputy Prime minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Internal Security minister Prof George Saitoti and retained President Kibaki at the helm.

The party is rolling out its arsenal gunning for the South Mugirango and Matuga constituency seats in the forthcoming by-elections.

Laying strategies

"We met on Wednesday to begin laying strategies. PDM does not qualify to field a candidate because we are not registered as a party. All like-minded parties will support one candidate. It will be an acid test but we will prevail and campaign for our candidates," said the Imenti South MP.

"Our ideology is progressivism. We feel the PNU side has done a lot for this country. Before the Grand coalition economy was growing at 7 per cent in 2007 but we had challenges of equitable distribution of wealth, which partly caused the post-election violence." Kiraitu said.

"Our movement seeks unite and move the country forward based on the ideology of progressivism politically, economically and socially," explained Kalonzo.

The party is being fashioned along the lines of South Africa’s ANC (Africa National Congress) as a coalition of the willing in which no member party will be dissolved but will later sign a charter providing principles of engagement, ideals, vision and programme of action for the movement. "It is an umbrella for all like-minded parties that seek to unify the country and progress it or transform it politically," Kalonzo said.

Kalonzo said in the coming days a programme of action would be drawn taking PDM across the country to the public. "Parties will be engaged at the level of party organs at the highest decision-making organs to include their aspiration and identify with objectives."

Asked about who would be PDM’s presidential candidate Kiraitu responded: "You do not start a movement and find its leadership instantly. We will put in place a transparent nomination process as we move towards 2012. As of now, I can’t tell you who will be the candidate."

He went on: "We will work together. All the leaders Kalonzo, Saitoti, Uhuru and the rest of us are committed to supporting the movement and building a strong political force."

Kiraitu explained the party was working on strategies to avoid falling out in the movement.

"In politics there are risks. We will ensure proper bonding and get leaders to honour their commitments. The movement will be too powerful and those who walk out will be doomed," he said with pride.

Consolidate gains

PDM, he argued, seeks to consolidate the gains made on the economic and political front. PDM is a political instrument for sustained drive for economic and political reform.

"We want to sharpen our punches. Its formation was inevitable. We are also driven by desire for political stability of Kenya. We want overcome factionalism in parties," the interim chairman went on.

Commenting on the criticism and resentment that greeted the movement following its launch, Kiraitu said, "It is the beginning of a movement. The critical thing is not having a candidate in 2012. We look at prospects of winning. We want to go as a team. Those who see sense should join us. Politics is a game of numbers."

Kiraitu said those from PNU who want to go it alone were free and PDM wishes them well.

"Those who are not yet consulted, we are looking for them. Sometimes a man can be in love with a woman very much and wishes to have her as a wife but if she is not interested, no marriage can take place,’’ said Kiraitu with a chuckle.

He added: "We do not have everybody, we want to bring every PNU supporter on board. PDM will be the mainstream political vehicle on our side of coalition. The splinter groups are normal."

On reform credentials within PDM ranks, Kiraitu argued there were many younger politicians with good credentials on the reform front. "They include Abdikadir Mohammed and Kabando wa Kabando. The 1990s cannot be used as a reference. Kenya has moved on. You cannot judge reform package with one benchmark. Even the ODM side is full of Kanu horses we fought against. We have a strong programme to bring youth on board," he argued.