Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Raila blocks Aladwa win in Nairobi


By David Mwere
Prime Minister Raila Odinga arrives at a function in Kerugoya yesterday PHOTO By DOMNIC ODHIAMBO
ODM is headed for severe disintergration in Nairobi after the party headquatters moved to nullify the election of Nairobi mayor George Aladwa as the party Chairman in Nairobi County.
THe move was taken after Prime Minister Raila Odinga intervened following complaint from Starehe MP Dr Margaret Wanjiru who had boycotted the elections after protesting the manner in which the polls were conducted.
Aladwa who had also beaten former Makadara MP Reuben Ndolo at sub branch In her petition to the election board, the Starehe
Wanjiru  who is also the Housing Assistant minister blamed her rivals of infusing a fake list of delegates at the county hall, the venue of the exercise, to tilt the result in their favor.
“The lists presented by these individuals are at complete discrepancy of the actual aftermath at the grassroots returns,” Wanjiru had complained after storming out of the venue.
In his ruling, board chairman Phillip Okundi says the party had taken the decision to ensure the end result of the grassroots election that started on 24 November, 2011 as a route aimed at complying with the political parties’ act and the constitution, reflects the true picture of the party’s supporters countrywide.
“The ODM party wants to ensure that all the leaders elected in the exercise constitute the true aspirations of the party members on the gound. The era of imposing leaders on Kenyans is long gone,” noted Okundi.
Immediately after the announcement, Aladwa promised to prove his skeptics wrong by winning the influential county seat.
“I will not be mashed into stepping out of the process. Am open to a transparent public audit that can only reflect the people’s wishes,” Aladwa vowed.
The ODM elections have attracted a great share of fierce competition between incumbents and hopefuls where the former, in their majorities have fallen by the wayside in what analysts predict a new wave that could trigger the outcome of the party’s 2012 general elections.
The process will culminate in the election of the party’s national office bearers and the presidential candidate at a national delegate’s convention expected early next year.
Several ODM MPs have been defeated inthe grassroot elections.they include its Secretary General Prof. Anyang Nyongo,Fred Gumo,John Mbadi among others.

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Moles winning key positions in Rift Valley ODM elections:Rutto


By David Mwere

Isaac Ruto:ODM elections infiltrated
ODM grassroots elections in Rift Valley face a serious credibility test at the National Delegates’ Conference following allegations of infiltrations by its opponents.
The party’s elections which started on 24 November 2011, after a series of postponement dating back to late last year, ends on 27 November, 2011.
Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto’s assertions lend credence to what might be ODM’s worst fears after he admitted that indeed those who had been elected in the Rift valley were not real ODM members.
He did not reveal whether his party was involved in the scheme saying the newly elected officials were neither UDM members. UDM is associated with Eldoret North MP William Ruto, a great critic of ODM leadership.
He however, added another twist to the controversy dogging the party with the majority following in the country, when he revealed the newly elected ODM officials from the Rift valley province will resign immediately after the delegates’ conference in Nairobi.
The conference planned for early next year, is expected to elect the party’s national office bearers and could also play a great role in the nomination of the party’s presidential flag bearer in the 2012 elections.
“I can confirm to you that those who were elected are not ODM neither are they UDM members. In fact there were no ODM elections in rift valley apart from people meeting in bars, hotels and under trees to write down names of the individuals. The rift valley officials will resign after the delegates’ convention,” says Ruto.
The Chepalungu MP’s allegations seem to corroborate claims raised by former Butere MP and ODM strategist in Western Kenya Amukowa Anangwe.
Though he dismisses the claims as a general talk, he says there have been pockets of infiltrations in other areas associated with the other ‘small parties’ opposed to ODM.
He says areas where Ford Kenya, New Ford Kenya and UDM parties are predominant, have been the hardest hit except PNU holds where the claims have not featured much.
“We are getting this information especially in places where an area MPs is aligned to UDM or the other ‘small parties’,” says Anangwe.
He says in Western province the affected area was Matungu constituency, represented by ODM’s David Were.
“It is a rare occurrence where non ODM members tried the trick but the UDM should come out clear and elect its own officials and mind its own business instead of engaging in criminal activities,” Anangwe says noting that it was an exercise in futility.
Planning Minister Wycliffe Oparanya said he had heard of the allegations in Lugari constituency, which is represented by KADDU’s Cyrus Jirongo, a key figure in the UDM dealings.
“Am on the ground in my constituency and nothing sinister has been reported. But respective party supporters in the affected areas should contain the malpractice,” says Oparanya.
The confusion confirms how Ruto and Uhuru infiltrated the party during the elections.
If the infiltrations serve the intended purpose by political opponents, then it could be a boost to politicians opposed to Prime Minister Raila Odinga who is expected to get the ODM nomination for the coming elections.
The actions could further bolster the formation of the much talked political alliances and mergers aimed at denying the prime minister the required march to the polls.
Anangwe, however, says the trick would not work since the political parties’ act was clear that, no one can belong to more than one party at a go.
 

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Share/Save/Bookmark A Nairobi ODM aspirant is said to have supplied new pangas and hammers to some supporters during the party’s grassroots elections on Thursday. The supporters, who numbered around 10, terrorised people who had queued to vote for the aspirant’s opponent. The thugs showed up at the voting centre early, positioned themselves strategically and when they realised that their opponent's ‘mlolongo’ was more than a kilometre long, they swung into action. They manhandled the returning officer before hitting women with hammers and cutting a man, who was treated at a nearby hospital.
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Still on matters ODM, we are told that a woman who wanted a senior position in Nairobi county has a son who chairs another party called Nuru. The young man was elected to some position in one of the ODM branches in Nairobi and now questions are being raised as to how he can be an official of two parties at the same time.
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Since Water minister Charity Ngilu made it clear that she will vie for the presidency come 2012, some politicians are rushing to dig up the dirt on her. An aide to one politician was heard saying that their main interest is to establish if the minister is a degree holder and if not block her presidential candidature citing Article 22 (2) of the Election Act 2011. The Article provides that “a person may be nominated as a candidate for election as President, Deputy President, county Governor or deputy county Governor only if the person is a holder of a degree from a university recognised in Kenya.”
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Senior officers at the Ministry of Youth and Sports are in a panic after Ikolomani MP Bonny Khalwale sought to know how they spent the Sh210 million budget for All Africa Games held in Maputo, Mozambique recently. We are informed that the officers have been in a rush to clear pending bills before Sports minister Paul Otuoma returns to the House with the breakdown this week. The officers have been sending text messages and calling other officials to help them balance the books.
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About 120 passengers flying to Dakar from Nairobi on Kenya Airways over the weekend were shocked upon landing in Senegal when they realised that their luggage had not been loaded onto the plane at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Angry passengers had to wait for hours at the airport in Dakar as alternative means were sought to fly the baggage from Nairobi.

Bickering in House team stalls political parties registrar vetting

Deputy Leader of Government Business Amos Kimunya. Photo/FILE
Deputy Leader of Government Business Amos Kimunya. Photo/FILE 
By NATION REPORTER
Posted  Tuesday, November 29  2011 at  22:30

The vetting of nominees to a panel that will recruit a new Registrar of Political Parties is still pending before a Parliamentary committee.
Deputy Leader of Government Business Amos Kimunya said on Tuesday the Justice and Legal Affairs committee is riddled with political complexities that have resulted in a stalemate.
“The issue is complex; every time we think we have resolved it, something new always comes up,” he said.
Parliament is required to consider the names and to either approve or reject them after vetting by the committee.
Under Section 35(1) of the Political Parties Act, the committee should have appointed the registrar 14 days from November 1, 2011 when the Act came into effect.
On November 15, Speaker Kenneth Marende asked the House Business Committee to allocate time for the disposal of two motions aimed at reviving the beleaguered committee.
He urged HBC to allocate time for the motions on Wednesday morning.
Githunguri MP Njoroge Baiya raised the matter, questioning the HBC’s commitment to bringing it to an end.
Mr Kimunya said the HBC will soon decisively conclude the matter.
“I can authoritatively tell the House that the matter will be resolved,” he said, promising progress in a week’s time.
Parties have already submitted nominees to Parliament and the Speaker forwarded the names to the committee for vetting last Tuesday.
Mr Marende said due to a delay in the selection process, it may not be feasible to meet the deadline while observing the approval processes.
The appointment of the Registrar of Political Parties will be made by the President in consultation with the Prime Minister after approval by the National Assembly.
The Act provides that two of the members of the selection panel shall be nominated by the political parties represented in the National Assembly.
MPs are not eligible to serve in the selection panel.

Sudan expels Kenyan envoy over ruling

Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir arrives at Uhuru Park, Nairobi, August 27, 2010 for the promulgation ceremony. President al-Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court at The Hague over war crimes and genocide in his country’s Darfur. Sudan has now ordered Kenya’s ambassador to leave the country after a Kenyan judge issued an arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir November 29, 2011. STEPHEN MUDIARI
Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir arrives at Uhuru Park, Nairobi, August 27, 2010 for the promulgation ceremony. President al-Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court at The Hague over war crimes and genocide in his country’s Darfur. Sudan has now ordered Kenya’s ambassador to leave the country after a Kenyan judge issued an arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir November 29, 2011. STEPHEN MUDIARI 
By BERNARD NAMUNANE bnamunane@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Tuesday, November 29  2011 at  22:30

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir’s decision on Tuesday to kick out Kenya’s ambassador to Khartoum has thrown the region into a diplomatic spin.
Trade, security and regional interests could be at jeopardy as a result of the collapse in relations.
President Bashir also recalled Sudan’s ambassador to Kenya after the High Court ordered the government to arrest him should he ever set foot in Kenya.
The Sudanese leader is wanted for crimes against humanity and genocide by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands.
The Kenyan ambassador to Sudan, Mr Robert Mutua Ngesu, was given 72 hours to leave Sudan.
And as relations between Kenya and Sudan collapsed, the Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) warned of great risks if Kenya effected the court order.
On Tuesday, Attorney-General Githu Muigai and Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetang’ula met in Bujumbura, Burundi, where they are attending a meeting of the East African Community, to discuss the crisis.
Sources said the meeting also included other ministers who accompanied President Kibaki to the EAC summit meeting in Burundi.
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“The Attorney General is holding urgent consultations with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and upon the conclusion of the consultations, I will formulate an objective response of the government of Kenya. We are looking at how the ruling impacts on Kenya’s foreign policy, regional and international interests,” said Prof Muigai by phone from Bujumbura.
He said the response will draw from the ruling, provisions of the Rome Statute which established the ICC, the Vienna Convention of Immunities of Heads of State and the International Criminal Act.
“It is then that the Attorney General will advise the government appropriately on the steps it has to take,” he said.
Prof Muigai said the case was handled by Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko and his office came in after the court ruling.
Foreign Affairs minister said they would appeal against the warrant against Al-Bashir.
Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetang’ula said they were studying the court ruling as he described Sudan’s decision to ask Kenya’s envoy in Khartoum to leave in 72 hours as “rushed”.
Mr Wetang’ula argued that ruling by Justice Nicholas Ombija directing Internal Security minister George Saitoti to arrest President al-Bashir and hand him over to the International Criminal Court had adverse effect on the country’s regional and international interests.
“As much as we respect the ruling of the High Court, we are aware that the Court does not operate in a vacuum. Since our judicial system provides for right of appeal, we shall carefully look at the judgement with a view to requesting the Attorney General to expeditiously prefer an appeal in the matter,” he said in a statement released in Bujumbura, Burundi, where he is attending the East Africa Community’s Head of State summit.
The storm was caused by Justice Nicholas Ombija’s ruling on Monday directing Internal Security minister George Saitoti and Prof Muigai to arrest President Bashir.
Justice Ombija said ICC Registrar Silvana Arbia requested all member states to arrest the Sudanese president if he visited their countries, arguing that Kenya should have arrested him on August 27, last year when he attended the promulgation of the new Constitution.
The case was filed by the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Kenya Chapter.
A statement by the Sudan embassy in Nairobi said the ruling had damaged the “good” relations between the two countries.
“The court ruling of yesterday (Monday) was a serious damage to the bilateral relations between the two countries. The Sudan government has recalled its ambassador in Nairobi for consultations and requested the Kenyan ambassador to Khartoum to leave the country within 72 hours,” the statement said.
Sudan said the ruling touched on its sovereignty and was not ready to allow the ICC, which it described as an international NGO, to sour the relations with its neighbour.
“This ruling has to do with the sovereignty of Sudan and it is very difficult for the Sudan Government to accept the interference of an international NGO to hamper the relations between the two countries.”
It also argued that the African Union had resolved against executing the ICC warrants on President Bashir.
“Due to the political nature of the International Criminal Court process in the Sudan file, the African Union member countries have agreed not to cooperate with the ICC and all African countries should abide by that resolution,” it said.
Igad also warned that the ruling was a threat to regional stability and peace in Sudan. Igad executive secretary Mahboub Maalim warned of negative effects on peace in Sudan if the warrant is carried out. Igad brings together Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, Djibouti, Eritrea, Somalia, South Sudan and Ethiopia.

Monday, November 28, 2011

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Kalonzo says ODM-K polls will be free and fair




Written By:VPPS,    Posted: Sun, Nov 27, 2011
Kalonzo is the ODM-K party leader
Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has assured Kenyans that ODM - Kenya Party nominations will be free and fair.
Mr. Musyoka said he will not interfere with the nominations for the posts of Senator, Governor, Member of Parliament and other elective positions.
"They will be done in time in order to prepare because we are going for a win. We are determined to have a big and united team that will ensure victory in the next election", he added.
The Vice President was speaking Saturday in Mwingi East district in Kitui County.
Mr. Musyoka thanked area member of Parliament and Assistant Minister for defense David Musila for standing with him as an elder brother.
Mr. Musila urged residents to register in large numbers for identity cards in readiness for the next general election, saying it's the best way to show support for the Vice President.
He called on Kenyans to be alert of visitors who were suspicious saying they should be reported to the authorities for appropriate action to be taken.
At the same time, Mr.  Musila sent a message of condolence to the family, relatives and friends of four constituents who lost their lives e in the Garisa grenade attack.
Those who accompanied the VP are Mutomo MP Isaac Muoki , former cabinet minister George Ndoto, Mwingi county council Chairman Musyoka Nzili, area District Commissioner Martin Mwaro and Bishop Robert Mutemi of Global Vision Church of Africa.

I’m not extending my term, says Kibaki




Written By:Margaret Kalekye/PPS,    Posted: Sun, Nov 27, 2011
President Kibaki made an extensive development tour of his Othaya constituency(FILE)
President Mwai Kibaki has emphasized that he will concentrate on finishing vital national development programmes aimed at securing the future of the nation.
President Kibaki said that he will spend the remaining period of his term in office finishing important projects to ensure that Kenyans enjoy quality living standards.
Said the President, "What needs to be done to empower Kenyans and improve their living standards must be done now."
The President noted that for the past nine years, the government had initiated ambitious programmes aimed boosting the country's economic growth and to facilitate profitable activities.
The Head of State termed as waste of crucial time and effort the ongoing debate on extending his term of office stating that the Kenyan constitution clearly stipulates that any serving president shall remain in office for only two terms of five years each.
Speaking Saturday during an extensive development tour in his Othaya Constituency, President Kibaki emphasized that no matter how much a leader may be loved, they must not unnecessarily extend their stay in office.
He urged Kenyans to focus on forging unity, developing their nation and improving their living standards.
The Head of State affirmed that Kenyans had developed confidence in the government for initiating development programmes in the country equitably.
In this regard, the President commended Kenyans for their patriotism and paying taxes faithfully thus enabling the government to collect considerable resources to facilitate implementation of laudable development.
"We have been able to successfully implement the Free Primary Education, construction of roads in all parts of the country and development of hospitals. The government has been collecting about six times the revenue we collected a few years ago," said the Head of State.
With regard to development of Othaya Constituency, President Kibaki assured the area residents that all initiated development projects shall be finished in time.
The Head of State also urged area residents to remain vigilant against petty wrangles that hurt development and unity of purpose required to implement.
He further urged local leaders to always ensure all positions leadership ae occupied by people who are keen on serving wananchi and responsive to their needs.
Among the interventions the President promised to ensure they are put in place include upgrading of Witima police post to full police station and posting of police officers, building adequate houses for the officers, and the delivery of an ambulance to Witima Health Centre which serves two neighbouring constituencies of Tetu and Mukurwei-ini.
Accompanying the President Nairobi Metropolitan Development Minister Njeru Githae underscored that President Kibaki had set high leadership standards as evidenced by implementation of development projects in all parts of the country.
Mr Githae said that President Kibaki's first assignment in office was to finish most of previously stalled public projects before embarking on others to empower Kenyans.
On an impending by-election for the Karima Civic Ward he called on Othaya people elect the PNU candidate Zachary Kiragu.
His sentiments were also echoed by Special Programmes Minister Esther Murugi who urged Othaya residents to stand with President Kibaki and his ruling party.
Ms Murugi also lauded President Kibaki for his visionary leadership and the tremendous development achievements the government had attained under his leadership.
She also delivered a message of solidarity from Kenyans living in the diaspora in UK where he attended official duties recently.
Others who accompanied and addressed the series public rallies at Gatugi, Giathenge and Witima markets included Othaya Town Council Chairman, Cllr Maina Murichu and PNU civic aspirant for Karima Ward Zachary Kiragu.
In attendance were Permanent Secretaries Francis Kimemia and Michael Kamau among other senior government officials.

Cartoon - 28/11/2011



Published on 28/11/2011

Who among these ladies will be Kenya’s next First Lady?



By Allan Olingo
With barely a month to the election year, the coin is about to be tossed to determine who will become Kenya’s next President.
Attention has been focused on the many politicians angling to succeed President Kibaki to become the fourth president with little thought being paid to the spouses of the possible winners.
Who will be the lucky woman who occupies State House after Lucy Kibaki?
Whoever becomes the first lady will not just be a flower at State House but will have roles to play and expectations to fulfil. Her position also comes with a large wage bill for the taxpayer. Going by what the current First Lady gets in allowances, she will expect to pocket about Sh720,000 a month.
She will also be expected influence the nature of the presidency for the better or worse. She could become a darling of the masses or a hate figure like Simone, wife of former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo, who was accused of encouraging her husband not to relinquish power even after being soundly defeated in a democratic election.
Charitable activities
Professor Macharia Munene, who teaches political science at the United States International University, says that when it comes to first ladies, it all depends on their intelligence and style in taking up their social position.
"She has to be a person of great ideas who would be able to advise the husband on various issues. It is up to each spouse to carry herself in a dignified manner," says Prof Munene.
He adds: "It is good to have someone who appears to care and that is why most spouses of these presidential aspirants get involved in charitable activities."
A good example is how Lucy Kibaki managed to cut a profile for herself by getting immersed in various humanitarian activities, which have helped portray a positive image of the first family.
Professor Munene adds that first ladies who play exemplary roles can transit into active political leadership.
"For instance, some first ladies like Hilary Clinton influenced policy issues and amassed political clout which they later used to pursue political office," he says.
In Kenya, the role of first lady was ill defined during previous regimes but during the tenure of President Kibaki it has started gaining relevance through the role played by Mrs Kibaki.
Over the years, many unique women have played the role of first lady in various countries all over the world. While some preferred to remain in the background, others used the position to champion causes beneficial to the public.
African first ladies play a less prominent role than their counterparts in countries like the United States where they are larger than life and their lifestyles are the focus of the media.
Among the first ladies who have exerted the most influence on the presidency in recent times was Nancy Reagan, wife of the late US President Ronald Reagan. She writes in her memoirs that after an attempted assassination in 1981 when he was shot and wounded, "I felt panicky every time (Ronald) left the White House."
She made it her business to know her husband’s schedule, the events he would be attending and with whom.
Eventually, this protectiveness led her to consult an astrologer who offered insight on which days were ‘good’, ‘neutral’ or should be avoided, which influenced her husband’s White House schedule.
This often created friction with White House staff to the extent that Reagan’s Chief of Staff, Donald Reagan, had to resign after an incident with the first lady.
During the presidency of Bill Clinton, his wife Hillary, now the Secretary for State, was involved in directing policy, especially in issues that dealt with healthcare. At one point, she was appointed to head a taskforce on national healthcare reform in America. Further, she contributed to important legislation like the Adoption and Safe Families Act.
In a few countries on the African continent, some first ladies have made political gains using their involvement in charity as a springboard.
For example in Uganda, the wife of president Yoweri Museveni, Janet, used her position to catapult herself into politics. Mrs Museveni was elected an MP and ultimately got appointed by her husband a cabinet minister.
Unlike Mrs Museveni, other first ladies in Africa have limited themselves to charitable activities.In Kenya, besides Lucy Kibaki, the wives of some prominent politicians who have an eye on the presidency have also been engaged in charity.
The wife of Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has been active in directing the activities of the Kalonzo Musyoka Foundation.
Through this, she has supported people-driven causes not only within her husband’s home district but also in other parts of the country.
Political nature
Tessy Mudavadi, wife of Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, spearheads the Musalia Mudavadi Foundation, which also supports charitable causes.
In some countries, the way in which first ladies make use of their charitable activities reveals their barely-disguised political nature.
"Because this work confers a reputation for humanity, it not only strengthens their own position but also that of their husband. It is this fact which explains how charitable work has become politicised and used to gain political advantage," says author Hillary De Prince Polam in her book The Participation of African First Ladies in Politics.
The numerous benefits that come with this position serve to build up its symbolic role as, for example, in the award of titles such as honorary doctorates and ‘Woman of the Year’ titles.
With only a month to the onset of the election year, many politicians have declared interest in becoming the president.
Those leading the race are Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Eldoret North MP William Ruto, Gichugu MP Martha Karua and Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth. DPM Musalia Mudavadi has also indicated that he would contest for the ODM nomination to run for the presidency. A late entrant into the race is former Cabinet minister Raphael Tuju.
Barring a win by Ms Karua, the following women are eligible to become first lady: Ida Odinga, Pauline Musyoka, Margaret Uhuru, Rachel Jebet Ruto, Tessy Mudavadi, Anne Kenneth and Mercy Tuju.

Kibaki accuses politicians of spreading falsehood



By Francis Ngige
President Kibaki’s spirited campaign for acivic candidate in the Karima ward by-election in Othaya, that is set for on Monday, has split open a raging supremacy battle between the Party of National Unity (PNU) and Grand National Union (GNU) party.
Seeing Kibaki, who is also the Othaya MP, put in such a strong effort for a civic candidate is a rare sight and it left many baffled.
The stakes are so high in this by-election that its outcome is likely to tilt the political landscape of a region that has no dominant party.
President Kibaki (second left) when he visited Othaya District hospital during tour of development projects in his constituency, on Sunday. Photo: George Mulala/Standard
Another civic by-election in Ngorano ward in the neighbouring Mathira constituency is also pitting PNU against GNU as Kenya moves into an election year.
By visiting the area for two consecutive days, it was clear that Kibaki was leaving nothing to chance as his stay in office enters the home stretch.
The emerging dominance of Assistant Minister Mwangi Kiunjuri’s GNU has set off alarm bells inside Kibaki’s inner circle forcing the Head of State to enter the trenches.
Kibaki even exhibited rare anger in Othaya on Saturday, and accused certain unnamed individuals of "sneaking into the area at night and spreading politics of falsehoods and bribery"
Although GNU has no sitting MPs, the party has taken advantage of the inertia in PNU to establish itself across the region, entering into the contest in the two wards to test its popularity.
Mr Kiunjuri and former Mathira MP Nderitu Gachagua have been leading an aggressive recruitment drive in the region making, some PNU bigwigs jittery.
The party was re-launched in May, in a ceremony filled with fanfare that was conducted at the historic Ruring’u Stadium in Nyeri.
Since then, the party has been opening up offices in all counties as well as registering members in readiness for 2012.
In the meantime, PNU has not been recruiting members or making its presence felt across the voter-rich region.
On Sunday, Mwea MP Peter Gitau of PNU conceded that the party was on a downfall.
Cancel campaign
Mr Gitau blamed the party’s leadership for the poor showing in the political scene saying if nothing was done urgently, PNU would be non-existent by 2012.
"Tell me, when is the last time that you heard PNU having a meeting or recruiting members? We must face the reality and realise that the party has been overtaken by events," the MP said.
He said the GNU wave currently being witnessed in the region should be a wakeup call for PNU and its leadership.
Matters came to a head on Saturday when Kibaki, in an uncharacteristic manner, mounted an aggressive campaign for PNU candidate in Karima ward, Zachary Kiragu.
Accompanied by Ministers Njeru Githae and Esther Murugi, Kibaki made a whirlwind tour of the civic ward addressing three political rallies before holding a leaders meeting at Othaya CDF Hall.
The President, who fell short of naming Kiunjuri and Mr Gachagua, said some people were traversing the region "spreading the politics of hatred at night."
"I know what has been happening here at night. Some people have been visiting the area with an undisclosed agenda bribing the locals," an angry Kibaki said.
The entry of the Head of State into the political fray surprised many with Kiunjuri and Gachagua issuing a statement saying the President had been misled into believing that GNU was out to undermine his leadership. "It must be noted that GNU cannot be ignored in the run up to the next General Election. We have put up necessary structures for the party and we have also recruited members," said Kiunjuri. GNU had to cancel its last campaign rally as a result of the President‘s visit to the area as it felt "the ward was too small for the two parties to hold separate campaign tours."
Since its re-launch in May, GNU has presented itself as the alternative to the faltering PNU and as the choice of the youth.
As a result, GNU has fielded youthful candidates in both by-elections in Othaya and Mathira while PNU has gone for experienced people.
While in Karima on Saturday, the President left no doubt about his intention to persuade the locals to vote for the PNU candidate.
But a dispatch by PPS indicated that Kibaki was in Othaya "in an extensive tour of developmentprojects in the constituency."