Uhuru allies insist they are part of PNU alliance

Posted by LORDRICK MAYABI on January 6, 2012

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 6 – Two MPs allied to KANU chairman Uhuru Kenyatta insist that the party is still part of the Party of National Unity Alliance despite Thursday’s decision by officials to skip the alliance’s launch set for next week.

Beth Mugo and Ferdinand Waititu said that the composite members of the alliance PNU, KANU and the Wiper Democratic Movement were already signatories to a memorandum of understanding to strengthen their own parties but let the alliance recruit members.

“There is no confusion as far as the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is concerned between Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper) Uhuru Kenyatta (KANU) and George Saitoti (PNU) that they strengthen their own parties and then come for joint nominations later,” said the Water Assistant Minister.

“KANU is recruiting, the Wiper Democratic Party is recruiting, PNU is recruiting but the PNU alliance will also recruit as a separate party,” reiterated Waititu.

Waititu insisted that despite the absence of KANU chairman Kenyatta and PNU chairman Saitoti, the launch will continue as scheduled on Tuesday next week at the Kenyatta International Conference centre led by Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi.

“It is not a surprise that KANU will not participate but this is a launch of the PNU alliance and their supporters will be there,” Waititu further said.

The KANU National Executive Council said on Thursday that it would not attend the launch, saying it has not agreed to enter into alliances with other political parties

KANU chairman Uhuru Kenyatta will be away in South Africa at the invitation of the African National Congress while Saitoti is scheduled to be at the Coast for the recruitment of more PNU members.

Separately, Cabinet Minister Beth Mugo said the Party of National Unity alliance is still on course despite several parties allied to it distancing themselves from the coalition, ahead of this year’s general elections.

Mugo maintained that the PNU alliance is still strong and that will be holding a cocktail party Friday evening where the matter will be discussed.

“PNU alliance is not dead; it is very alive and we are even celebrating. Alliances will bring together different parties. Everyone is strengthening then at the end of the day we come together,” she said.

KANU and the Orange Democratic Movement-Kenya which was renamed Wiper Democratic Movement have recently embarked on self re-branding and recruitment of members.