New PNU Alliance plots strategy for 2012 election

By OLIVER MATHENGE omathenge@ke.nationmedia.comPosted Saturday, January 22 2011 at 21:00

In Summary

• Party members go for a retreat to craft winning formula

The new PNU Alliance – billed as the dream ticket for party stalwarts – began a retreat on Saturday to refine strategy on how to capture power in next year’s General Election.

At the top of the agenda are the implementation of the new Constitution, the International Criminal Court case involving six Kenyans and the by-election in Kirinyaga Central.

Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi, who is one of the key luminaries in the new party, said founding members have “embarked on building a mass movement or a political machine to decidedly win the 2012 election”.

He said the PNU Alliance would conduct widespread recruitment ahead of leadership nominations.

“The new PNU Alliance has no connection at all with the so-called ‘KKK’ group. The push for the Alliance started in Nyali, Mombasa in August 2009, long before the KKK came on the scene. We have no intention of forming or supporting tribal groups,” said PNU Chief Whip Johnstone Muthama, who was addressing the meeting.

Prof Peter Kagwanja, who is one of the alliance’s strategists, said the party that transforms President Kibaki’s PNU coalition into a unified political movement would also discuss its roadmap in preparation for the 2012 polls.

Attended by members of its national alliance committee, the meeting will prepare for a national conference to launch the new party.

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Internal Security minister George Saitoti and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka will be part of the PNU Alliance.

Speaking when the formation of the new party was announced, Mr Kenyatta said the new group would bring together more leaders to attain a national outlook.

“If they panicked when they saw a few of us together and called us ‘KKK’ alliance, I am wondering what they will do when they see us with leaders from every part of the country,” the Finance minister said.

Mr Kenyatta, Mr Musyoka and Eldoret North MP have announced they would work together in a political alliance to capture power in 2012.

It is not the first time PNU bigwigs have tried to put together a unified political party. Last year they formed the so-called Green Alliance in hopes of transforming it into a political movement after the August 4 referendum.

Late last year, Mr Saitoti, Mr Kenyatta and Mr Musyoka – all presumed presidential candidates – agreed to fight it out in primaries in the pro-Kibaki party since the Head of State will have served two terms and would be ineligible for re-election.