Polls coup fuels coalition rivalries

Former Justice Minister Martha Karua crowned her party's two-seat coup in the Monday by-election by declaring Narc-Kenya the party to reckon with in 2012.

She swam in her party's victory of Makadara and Juja parliamentary seats, at the expense of the President’s Party of National Unity, as the ripple effect of her resurgence shook the Grand Coalition and set off panic button in PNU.

On the surface, Karua delivered the message she is no longer in the league of presidential hopefuls PNU, or more specifically central Kenya, may take for granted.
Makadara MP-elect Mike Mbuvi holds his certificate as he celebrates with supporters at the Railways Training Institute, Nairobi yesterday.

This is because having taken Narc-Kenya out of PNU, which is the affiliation of parties Kibaki rode on to State House for the second time, the by-elections handed her ‘sweet revenge’ against the President and his allies.

Signs that the Karua wave could not be ignored came out when a blame-game broke out in PNU, with top leaders warning of a more humiliating defeat in the 2012 General Election unless the party leadership was revamped.

In an apparent indictment of PNU chairman and Internal Security Minister George Saitoti – who they observe, did not show up on the campaign trail – two PNU vice- chairmen, Noah Wekesa and George Nyamweya, warned these were signs the party was fading into oblivion.

Karua’s ‘revenge’ should be understood against the fact that after the formation of half-Cabinet in January 2008 during the peak of post-election violence, President Kibaki ignored Narc-Kenya’s claim of independence from PNU. Another demand that Narc-Kenya’s numerical strength, of 25 MPs, be matched with positions in Government was ignored.

bitter exit

Instead, the President gave the Vice-Presidency to Kalonzo Musyoka’s ODM-Kenya. When the power-sharing deal came after the February 28, 2008, National Accord, the President again bypassed Narc-Kenya and gave the PNU’s deputy premiership to Kanu’s Uhuru Kenyatta.

Despite ‘protecting’ the Kibaki presidency and leading the Government team at the ‘Serena Mediation Talks’ convened by Kofi Annan, it is believed Karua felt she had been slighted. This culminated in her acrimonious exit from Government in 2009, citing frustrations in discharging her duties.

The Monday victory, therefore, exacts ‘revenge’ on three key politicians: The first is President Kibaki to whom her loyalty was beyond reproach and dating back to their days in the Democratic Party.

Karua is also said to have felt betrayed by President Kibaki’s preference for Kalonzo and Uhuru, who she considered ‘intruders’ in PNU.

To make it worse, she is also reported to have taken unkindly reports the President was leaning towards Uhuru as his preferred successor. The brutal efficiency with which she delivered her ‘revenge’ lies not only in the fact that she took the two seats that belonged to PNU, but also humiliated Uhuru in his backyard – Juja.

Interestingly, Uhuru had been in Juja campaigning for Mr George Thuo, the former Government Chief Whip, with Kalonzo. Curiously, in humiliating Uhuru and Kalonzo, through the victory of Mr William Kabogo on her party ticket, she opened up another front in the coalition wars.

At one point Kalonzo told a rally Thuo’s win would strengthen the partnership between him and the Kanu chairman. The intended effect of the statement was not lost on a region where the possibility of such an alliance could mesmerize voters.

PNU Predicarment

To cap the current PNU predicament, Uhuru and Kalonzo had invoked Kibaki’s name in campaigning for Thuo, but voters were not impressed. That pointed to how high the stakes were, and the by-elections were a stage for a much bigger battle, the race to succeed President Kibaki in the 2012 General Election.

Political commentators will notice that Kabogo beat Thuo by a massive 25,000 votes, despite Kalonzo and Uhuru’s backing.

Deputy Chief Whip was Kangundo MP Johnstone Muthama, who is from Kalonzo’s ODM-K. PNU insiders say Kalonzo wanted the position given to Muthama. Uhuru preferred Ndaragwa MP Jeremia Kioni.
Starehe MP-elect Margaret Wanjiru is joined by ODM members at the Kenya Polytechnic. [PHOTOS: BONIFACE OKENDO AND JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

But it was not only Kibaki, Kalonzo, and Uhuru who were humbled. Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement may have retained the Starehe seat, through Bishop Margaret Wanjiru, but it was in Makadara that ODM had put its money.

Secretary General Anyang’ Nyong’o had in fact declared Makadara, which was in the hands of PNU’s Dick Wathika until a court nullification, was in the pocket and would be delivered through Reuben Ndolo. But despite Raila’s campaigns, and the party decision to give Ndolo direct nomination to the chagrin of the eventual winner, Narc-Kenya Mike ‘Sonko’ Mbuvi, ODM came second.

So devastating was the defeat for Wathika that he quit politics. That must have warmed Karua’s heart given her resignation statement in April last year that she could not “go on serving when my hands are tied”.

In Juja, what was even more humbling to PNU, which came third in both Makadara and Juja, Alice Ng’ang’a of Kenya National Congress beat Thuo in Uhuru’s political base. Her notable campaigner was Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth.

The Planning Assistant Minister is said to harbour presidential ambitions. His political activities have constantly irritated the Uhuru camp.


In Starehe, and running on PNU ticket was the President’s confidant and former Sports Minister Maina Kamanda. He lost to Wanjiru who was re-elected with 29,287 votes against Kamanda’s 25, 416.

That Uhuru and Kalonzo did not deliver Starehe, further cast doubt on their approach. “It is time the PNU leadership is overhauled as a matter of urgency,” said Dr Wekesa.