Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Mudavadi and Uhuru to ‘snub the big parties’


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Deputy Prime Ministers Uhuru Kenyatta and Musalia Mudavadi. Photo/STEPHEN MUDIARI
Deputy Prime Ministers Uhuru Kenyatta and Musalia Mudavadi. Photo/STEPHEN MUDIARI 
By BERNARD NAMUNANE bnamunane@ke.nationmedia.com and SIMON SIELE ssiele@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Monday, April 23  2012 at  22:30
Presidential aspirants Uhuru Kenyatta and Musalia Mudavadi are finalising plans to name their new political homes with just seven days to the end of the registration period for parties.
Sources close to the two, who have shifted their political allegiances, indicated that they had chosen to go for parties which are not represented by MPs in the current Parliament for a fresh start.
While Mr Kenyatta quit the independence party, Kanu, which he chaired, Mr Mudavadi at the weekend said he would leave ODM after a dispute over the presidential nomination rules.
It is understood the Gatundu South MP has been holding negotiations with four political parties but finally chose one which he hopes to popularise.
His spokesman Munyori Buku said on Monday: “The Deputy Prime Minister will make his party known in the fullness of time. Whatever party it is, it will be one of those that have either been registered or applied for registration.”
It was expected that Mr Kenyatta would go for the PNU Alliance but protests from Internal Security minister George Saitoti that its name is similar to his PNU became an obstacle.
Prof Saitoti has written to the Registrar of Political Parties, saying the PNU Alliance should not be registered.
In Nakuru, one of Mr Kenyatta’s pointmen in Central Rift, who sought anonymity as he was not the DPM’s spokesman, said “it is only a matter of days before a major political statement is made”.
The source said some delegates from DP had requested Mr Kenyatta to join their party.
“We welcome DPM for his decision to abandon Kanu but his continued delay in identifying a new party is disappointing his supporters and that is why we urge him to join DP,” said Mr Charles Kibe, a DP official.
Mr Mudavadi, who hosted several delegations in Sabatia at the weekend, has the options of New Ford Kenya, Kanu or Ford Kenya, which have grassroots presence in his backyard.
Those close to him said officials of the three parties offered to give him room in their outfits but he declined.

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