Kanu chairman Uhuru Kenyatta. Photo/FILE
By MUCHEMI WACHIRA mwachira@ke.nationmedia.com and JOYCE KIMANI joystosha@yahoo.com
Posted Saturday, December 17 2011 at 20:13
Posted Saturday, December 17 2011 at 20:13
Two Kanu rival groups which have been embroiled in a bitter row over leadership eventually came together on Saturday and resolved to rejuvenate the party in readiness for the next General Election.
However, it was not smooth sailing at the beginning when the two groups met at Great Rift Valley Lodge in Naivasha for the National Executive Council/ Parliamentary Group meeting.
The group allied to the party’s vice-chairman Gideon Moi sat separately from their rivals led by chairman Uhuru Kenyatta.
But when the meeting started, the Moi-led group found it difficult to pin down Mr Kenyatta who they accused of abandoning them after he joined the Party of National Unity in 2007.
They could not marshal enough numbers since Mr Kenyatta had the support of 36 out of the 41 NEC members.
Any time Mr Moi’s group raised an issue aimed at dressing down the chairman, it would be asked to stick to party issues instead of dwelling on individual or personality matters.
Right from the start, Mr Kenyatta and his supporters made it clear that what was crucial at the meeting was how to revamp the party in preparation for the next General Election.
It is Mr Kenyatta who had convened the closed-door meeting to discuss strategies of restructuring the party so that it can comply with the new Political Parties Act.
Addressing the press outside the venue, Mr Kenyatta denied existence of rivalries among the officials of the party and accused the media of spreading such propaganda.
“We had very good deliberations talking about our party and how we can move forward,” said Gatundu South MP.
He said that from the discussions and dialogue they had in their meeting “I am convinced that we shall get a way forward that will make us form a formidable force”.
“We are a mature party. We don’t use stones to sort out our problems, we do thorough talking,” said Mr Kenyatta who was flanked by other NEC/Parliamentary Group members who included the party’s secretary-general Nick Salat.
Mr Salat described the meeting as a turning point and promised that Kanu will be the party to watch in next year’s elections.
However, Mr Moi did not join the group that was returning from late lunch when they decided to address journalists.
He did not even join other NEC members during their lunch and instead he went to have his food elsewhere before returning for the final session.
Cabinet ministers present at the NEC meeting, which started on Saturday, included Prof Sam Ongeri and Dr Naomi Shabaan.
Others were assistant minister Lee Kinyanjui and Kareke Mbiuki. MPs Joseph Lekuton (Laisamis), Lewis Nguyai (Kikuyu), Abdul Bahari (Isiolo South) and Mithika Linturi (Igembe South) were also present.
Mr Kenyatta said they would release a press statement on resolutions they would make after conclusion of their meeting.
But, by going to press, the meeting was still in progress.
A source told the Sunday Nation that the NEC officials agreed to revise the party constitution to comply with the new Political Parties Act.
Party officials will no longer be allowed to hold public office and those who express an interest in the presidential seat must first resign their party positions, the NEC meeting resolved.
This means that Mr Kenyatta will have to resign his position as the party chairman if he expresses an interest in the presidency. The party constitution will be adjusted to allow mergers and pre-election or post-election coalitions.
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