By OLIVER MATHENGE omathenge@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Saturday, August 13 2011 at 22:00
Posted Saturday, August 13 2011 at 22:00
IN SUMMARY
- PNU and ODM presidential hopefuls take no chances in by-election they call crucial
With the Kamukunji by-election just four days away, the campaigns are now shaping up as a supremacy battle between ODM and PNU ahead of the General Election expected next year. This is despite Narc-Kenya, which was previously a PNU affiliate, fielding its own candidate.
The by-election is a key test for prospective presidential candidates and in particular Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua.
Mr Odinga led his Orange troops for campaigns in the constituency on Saturday, while Mr Musyoka and Dagoretti MP Beth Mugo invested a number of hours on Friday to woo voters to the PNU side.
The by-election is also seen as a major test in the control of Nairobi politics ahead of county elections next year. ODM has four MPs — Kasarani, Starehe, Westlands and Lang’ata; PNU has two MPs in Dagoretti and Embakasi while Narc-Kenya has Makadara.
Kamukunji was under PNU’s Simon Mbugua who lost the seat through a petition lodged by ODM’s Ibrahim Ahmed. Mr Mbugua is not in the race after he was locked out by the Interim Independent Electoral Commission.
The PNU Alliance led by Mr Kenyatta and Mr Musyoka is hoping to use the by-election as an indication of the strength of their new-found unity.
On the other hand, ODM will be using the by-election to gauge its popularity and that of Mr Odinga, which has apparently been affected by the rebellion of some key party members who are now working with PNU.
Ms Karua’s flower party is hoping to cause an upset against the two major parties as it did in Juja and Makadara last year. Its candidate is Mr Brian Weke.
The top leadership of the three parties has been traversing the constituency with ODM and PNU ministers promising goodies.
Uncomfortable with the decision by PNU Alliance to settle for Mr Hassan, some party members had launched a campaign against the PNU candidate.
Supporters of Mr Mbugua are some of those said to be revolting against the PNU Alliance leadership and in particular Mr Kenyatta who they see as using the by-election to advance his support for 2012 among the Somalis.
But it is not only in PNU that there appears to be trouble over the nominations. ODM’s decision to directly nominate Mr Ibrahim Ahmed has also not gone down well with some supporters.
PNU and ODM previously lost the Makadara seat in a by-election last year to the then little-known Gidion “Sonko” Mbuvi. Mr Mbuvi, who was more known by the electorate than the political elite, won the election that had been touted as a two-horse race between the ODM and PNU candidates.
PNU Alliance’s selection of Mr Hassan is strategically plotted in line with the 2012 elections as it tries to widen its net in securing support from the Somali community in Nairobi and northern Kenya.
While on the campaign trail, Mr Kenyatta has appealed to locals to vote for Mr Hassan, saying his victory will earn him support from North Eastern for his presidential ambition.
“In the PNU Alliance, we stand for a united Kenya. This is in the realisation that no community can lead this country without support from across the board. One of the best ways of doing this is for larger communities to give their minority brothers and sisters an opportunity to lead,” said Mr Kenyatta.
Mr Odinga, while campaigning for his party’s candidate, has shared the same sentiments. The PM has told the residents that the by-election will be a reflection of how the 2012 elections will shape up.
The high stakes of the campaigns have been demonstrated by the attempt by PNU and ODM ministers to use state resources to woo the voters despite warnings from the IIEC. Both campaign teams in Kamukunji have been wooing support for their candidates by promising major infrastructural projects.
Mr Odinga, for instance, said the government had prepared a Sh30 billion development masterplan to change the face of Eastleigh — the economic hub of Kamukunji constituency — which he said included upgrading of roads and drainage system.
A day earlier, Mr Musyoka had announced that the government had set aside Sh3.5 billion for rehabilitation of roads in the constituency.
Other contenders in the by-election include Ms Muthoni Kihara of GNU, Mr Geoffrey Mutuku of TIP, Mr James Matagaro of Kenya Social Congress, Mr David Wahiga of Agano and Mr Daniel Omao of Ford People.
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