Monday, October 17, 2011

Central leaders drum up support for Uhuru



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GNU party leader Mwangi Kiunjuri (left) and Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta at the Great Rift Valley Lodge during a past retreat  in January 2010. Mr Kiunjuri said his party will support Mr Kenyatta for the presidency.
Phtoo/FILE GNU party leader Mwangi Kiunjuri (left) and Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta at the Great Rift Valley Lodge during a past retreat in January 2010. Mr Kiunjuri said his party will support Mr Kenyatta for the presidency. 
By NATION TEAM newsdesk@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Sunday, October 16  2011 at  20:11
The battle for political supremacy in Mt Kenya region has intensified with more than 200 councillors warming up to the Grand National Union party.
GNU party leader Mwangi Kiunjuri hosted the councillors and religious leaders from Laikipia and Nyeri counties at his Nanyuki home at the weekend.
The Public Works assistant minister repeated that his party will support Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta for the presidency, and urged Narc-Kenya’s Martha Karua and Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth to support him too.
“We can tackle issues affecting the region collectively if we are in one party,” Mr Kiunjuri told the leaders.
Separately, Lari MP David Njuguna has urged other presidential hopefuls from Mt Kenya region to unite ahead of 2012 elections.
Speaking at Kimende, Mr Njuguna said: “Most leaders in Mt Kenya region have endorsed Mr Kenyatta as our spokesman and he will be the flag bearer in 2012.
“I appeal to others interested in the seat from our region to back him so that we can carry the day,” Mr Njuguna.
The two leaders spoke as a section of Kanu party officials threatened to suspend Mr Kenyatta.
The scheme coordinated by secretary-general Nick Salat seeks to remove Mr Kenyatta from his position as the national chairman. (READ: Uhuru faces growing rebellion in Rift Valley)
The group is calling for a National Executive Committee, where modalities to kick out Mr Kenyatta would be discussed.
“Our chairman is killing the party from within and only speaks well of it when he is in trouble,” Mr Salat said.
But Nakuru Kanu chairman David Manyara said any plans to eject the chairman from the party would be futile.
“Mr Kenyatta has called for a NEC meeting to revive the party, but a group led by Mr Salat is frustrating his efforts and has even moved to court to block the planned meeting,” Mr Manyara said.
Reports by Eric Wainaina, Muchiri Gitonga and Francis Mureithi

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