ALLIES of Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta have finally decamped from the PNU Alliance and resolved to build the new United Democratic Forum party as an alternative. It is now a strong possibility that Uhuru will go it alone in the 2012 presidential race without the support of Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka or Internal Security minister Prof George Saitoti.
In September the three signed an agreement that they would field a single candidate in 2012 for the PNU Alliance. A group of 50 MPs from different parties, all allied to Uhuru, met at Panafric Hotel in Nairobi on Tuesday night and resolved to join the UDF party. They will start by raising money for a countrywide recruitment drive. Another blow for the struggling PNU alliance was Kalonzo's decision to change his party's name from ODM-K to Wiper Democratic Party in November, a sign that he is also intends to run for President on his own.
Last week Saitoti announced he intends to run for President as the PNU candidate. The Tuesday meeting resolved that UDF should choose its presidential candidate in February after the party recruits and elects new national officials. “We have decided to switch to UDFP and popularise it now. It is the party to watch now. We are going door-to-door in our recruitment drive,” said Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni, one of Uhuru's close allies.
MPs who attended the Tuesday meeting expressed dissatisfaction with the PNU Alliance saying that it has been “owned” by individual politicians, especially those who want to stand for President. Those present at Tuesday's meeting included Emilio Kathuri (Manyatta), Peter Munya (Tigania East), Raphael Letimalo (Samburu East), Jamleck Kamau (Kigumo), Mohammed Kuti (Isiolo), Joseph Lekuton (Laisamis), and Robert Monda (Nyaribare Chache).
Other MPs linked to the new party include Abdikadir Mohammed (Mandera Central), George Nyamweya (nominated), Ndiritu Muriithi (Laikipia West), Lewis Nguyai (Kikuyu), Lee Kinyanjui (Nakuru Town), Njoroge Baiya (Githunguri), Maison Leshoomo (nominated), Njeru Githae (Ndia), Joseph Gitari (Kirinyaga Central) and Lena Jebii Kilimo (Marakwet East).
The UDFP now becomes the fourth political outfit formed by President Kibaki's allies as they strategise for the 2012 general election. The Progressive Democratic Movement was formed in March 2008 but faded away. Uhuru's supporters toyed with the idea of building the Green Alliance into a political party while others wanted the KKK alliance be elevated to the status of a party. The MPs will be registered as members of the forum with one Osman Hassan as the chairman of the secretariat and Petronilla Were as its Chief Executive Officer.
However MPs will not hold positions in the new party to ensure all elected members are equal in running its affairs. “The party has been fundraising for its daily operations and for the meetings held so far but the party is in the process of planning a major funds dinner as one of its immediate activities,” said an official of the party yesterday. “So far there are over 20,000 registered members and the efforts are being upped to capitalise on all the counties,” added the official.
The meeting resolved to hold rallies and forums in each of the 47 counties to popularise it in the near future. Last September, Uhuru, Kalonzo Musyoka and Saitoti signed a Memorandum of Understanding binding them and their supporters to the PNU Alliance and to fronting a single presidential candidate in 2012. Uhuru chairs Kanu, Saitoti PNU and Kalonzo ODM-Kenya (Wiper).
Eldoret North MP William Ruto was expected to collaborate with the PNU Alliance but he has now opted to popularise his United Democratic Union. At one point, the individuals involved had even discussed collapsing their political parties to strengthen the PNU Alliance as an independent outfit. Interim officials were even appointed to oversee its registration with the Registrar of Political Parties. Titus Ibue was the PNU Alliance chairman, Ms Beatrice the secretary and Martin Kuria the treasurer.
MPs allied to Uhuru became jittery after Kalonzo relaunched his ODM-K and re-branded it the Wiper Democratic Party in November. “We had agreed that we will hold joint nominations to pick a presidential candidate. A few days later, we saw some of the key figures running in the field declaring that they must be on the ballot paper,” said Kioni. To complicate matters further, some MPs started accusing some of the PNU alliance leaders of swindling Uhuru out of money.
Agriculture assistant minister Kareke Mbiuki said, “People are misusing him (Uhuru) by demanding money to fund the party’s activities and for building the party. "But on the other side they are going round claiming the country is not ready for another Kikuyu President. So what they want is his money and later deny him an opportunity to win the nomination process.”
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