RAILAPHOBIA AND GREEN ALLIANCE

The rivalry between coalition partners PNU and ODM in the ‘Yes’ camp has finally led to the formation of a splinter group for the Greens campaigns. In what is clearly a political divorce of convenience, the main parties pushing for the enactment of the Proposed Constitution may now have to contend with living separately, even as they sell the same message.

And the Prime Minister Raila Odinga factor is once again emerging as being behind the fresh offshoot.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga

Although PNU has been the first to demonstrate this need by setting up a parallel secretariat under the aegis of Green Alliance, highly placed sources close to the leadership of the two parties confided to The Standard On Sunday, that the two have all along nursed the desire to operate separately.

The two parties were bitter rivals during the 2007 General Election and only came together, through the National Accord that established the Coalition Government.

With the eyes of leaders in ODM and PNU camps trained on the 2012 General Election, the working relations between the two foes-turned-allies has been characterised by suspicion and misgivings.

Each side is reportedly playing cards close to its chest for fear that members of the rival group may uncover their campaign strategies, networks and secrets.

Regional Development Minister, Fred Gumo, is among those who have reportedly expressed the need for ODM to run its referendum campaign separately.

"He expressed displeasure, not once but many times, over PNU’s apparent disinterest, and the slow pace in embarking on the ‘Yes’ drive.

Separately, members of PNU have raised the red flag on what they claim ODM was pilfering data submitted to the KICC secretariat, to penetrate PNU organisational networks.

"We have been surprised the ODM political affairs office has been contacting our PNU field staff and officials, with whom they had no prior contacts. Our investigations show the personal information and contact details were obtained from our records submitted to the KICC secretariat," a source close to senior PNU player told The Standard On Sunday.

A former MP, who is a Kanu official, cites an instance where a key party operative from Embu was summoned to Nairobi by an ODM official, over ‘Yes’ campaign related issues.

With information sharing now strained and prospects of joint funding for the campaigns limited, the political divorce was looming. What remains to be seen is how President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga react to the development when they return from the World Cup bonanza in South Africa.

Green alliance

Although the coalition partners sought to downplay the formation of the new alliance, saying it was a complementary outfit, Peter Kagwanja, the joint co-ordinator of the ‘Yes’ secretariat, said ‘Railaphobia’, which he warned could hurt the ‘Yes’ strategy, drove the Green Alliance.

"The Green Alliance is underpinned by irrational fear for the PM or what some call Railophobia. It could result in irrational and tactless decisions and moves. It has been formed by individuals around the Deputy Prime Minister, but the ‘Yes’ secretariat remains intact," Prof Kagwanja said on phone.

Reacting to the development, ODM Chief Whip, Jakoyo Midiwo, said the party had no problem with groups who felt they would do a better job of selling ‘Yes’ outside the main secretariat.

"At the end of the day, the ‘Yes’ vote will go to the same basket. In fact, a view has been expressed about forming a team of MPs from across parties to constitute a separate front for ‘Yes’, and leave the main secretariat for the President and the PM, explains Midiwo.

In its breakaway move, the PNU wing of ‘Yes’ campaign met on Friday and chose Mandera Central MP, Abdikadir Mohamed, to lead the newly formed Green Alliance with Kinangop MP, David Ngugi, as is his deputy co-ordinator.

The Green Alliance, which is viewed as the platform Deputy Prime Minister, Uhuru Kenyatta, intends to rally the Mt Kenya region behind the ‘Yes’ campaign, immediately hit the road with a rally in Nyahururu on Saturday, with another planned for Nanyuki today.

The ‘divorce of convenience’ is not a surprise, as it was long coming. Three test-drive rallies (Uhuru Park, Embakasi and Tononoka) were wrought with undercurrents of rivalry and difficulties between ODM and PNU over who was getting what accolades from the ‘Yes’ campaign.

Shouted down

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka protested after being shouted down at Uhuru Park, PNU MPs snubbed Embakasi rally, while ODM-Kenya snubbed the Tononoka rally in Mombasa last weekend. Only Kalonzo attended.

There is no denying the Green Alliance move has the blessings of the VP, who despite playing a lead role in setting it up and offering financial support, has sought to reassure the public that "all is well".

On Friday, the VP toured the KICC-based outfit and issued a statement in which he said he hoped the "Green Alliance would not contradict the joint Secretariat". However, The Standard On Sunday has established he is among ODM-Kenya and PNU MPs who contributed Sh1.2 million on Friday for the new initiative.

"Both the V-P and Uhuru have contributed Sh200, 000 each, and (Kangundo MP Johnstone) Muthama and (Energy Minister) Kiraitu Murungi have contributed Sh100, 000 each. We raised Sh1.2 on Friday, and more will come," said Kanu organising secretary, Justin Muturi.

It has also emerged several planning meetings had been held between Kalonzo and Uhuru allies prior to the announcement of Green Alliance. An office secured for the outfit in Kileleshwa will be furnished and activated next week.

Said Deputy co-ordinator and Kinangop David Ngugi: "It will enable us to activate and unleash all our potential to sell the ‘Yes’ campaign in regions it has been lukewarm or lacking."

Contacted through the director of communications in his office, the PM said ODM was not worried with splinter groups so long as they were preaching the ‘Yes’ message.

"Whoever is for us is not against us. Whoever supports the new constitution is welcome either as an individual or as a group. Like the Christians, members of the ‘Yes’ team will split to cover the length and width of the country," said Dennis Onyango.