Uhuru’s backers complete search for political vehicle

By ISAAC ONGIRI

Three political parties are posturing to attract the attention of Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta.

This is happening even as the former minister’s long hunt for a political party is expected to climax in days after his allies indicated the search is over.

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta (left), Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi, and Mathira MP Ephraim Maina at a PNU Alliance event last year. Many have questioned the DPM’s loyalty to Kanu, which he chairs. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

But even as MPs and the Deputy Prime Minister’s supporters in Central Province and in the Kikuyu Diaspora hold their breath for ‘UK’ as he is known by his fans to declare his party, his key handlers are spending the Easter holidays putting final touches on an old political party he is said to have endorsed.

Seeking registration

The DPM’s new party is expected to present itself for registration on Tuesday before Uhuru and his allies can associate with it.

Investigations by The Standard On Sunday revealed Uhuru’s handlers have settled on National Alliance Party of Kenya (NAPK) owned by Nairobi businessman Lawrence Nginyo Kariuki.

It is anticipated his move could trigger mass exodus from various political parties to the outfit as several politicians plan to ride on an Uhuru party.

The DPM has been under pressure from his political ally William Ruto to find a political party he can control to pave the way for joint political strategies.

What analysts are waiting to see is whether the son of Kenya’s founding President Jomo Kenyatta will trigger a euphoria that will unite Mt Kenya region.

But the decision was made even as the Alliance Party of Kenya led by Cabinet minister Kiraitu Murungi and the United Democratic Forum associated with Mandera Central MP Mohamed Abdikadir Mohammed scrambled for Uhuru’s hand.

"National Alliance Party of Kenya is a serious party and nobody should wish it away," said former Siakago MP Justin Muturi, hinting to which direction things would head.

Though Muturi declined to confirm Uhuru had picked the party out of the three that have been seeking his attention, the former MP explained the DPM was frustrated in Kanu. "People like me and Uhuru have been severely frustrated inside Kanu because some people interfered so much. We wouldn’t want to stay in such a party anymore," Muturi said.

He also dismissed UDF as a party formed by opportunistic civil servants who hoped to drag Uhuru to it.

"We are not going to UDF. Some MPs jumped into the party imagining Uhuru would follow them there. Now they are lost and do not know what to do," Muturi said.

Assistant minister Kareke Mbiuki also revealed Uhuru had been advised against joining parties associated with tribal groupings to salvage his current political form and national appeal.

"We have told him to keep off this new party created by Cabinet minister Kiraitu Murungi who hopes Uhuru will get into the bus and drive him. He is joining a party with a national agenda," Mbiuki said.

Party of choice

The assistant minister said the DPM had found a party that will accommodate all his supporters.

"We are advising central Kenya leaders and those from the wider Mt Kenya region to stop loitering around with political parties known to have only regional ideologies. We have told Uhuru not to join them," the minister said.

Uhuru’s move is likely to trigger a political stampede with MPs who had joined smaller political outfits to pre-empt his move remaining confused and cornered.

Running against Uhuru in the Kikuyu nation is seen as an expensive political venture nobody wants to spend a cent on.

His choice of political party is also being awaited with curiosity on the URP ranks.

"His continuous stay without a party has hindered our plans. We are indeed waiting for him to make that choice because we want party to party negotiations," said Cherengany MP Joshua Kutuny.

In the just concluded Cabinet reshuffle, those seen to be rubbing shoulders with him were left in the cold despite their widely recognised qualifications. Industrialisation Assistant Minister Nderitu Mureithi failed to get a Cabinet slot despite his qualifications and eloquence on economic matters after sliding from Uhuru’s lane into UDF.

The same fate befell Planning Assistant minister Peter Kenneth, who wants to compete with Uhuru for president.

Uhuru’s Cabinet slot went to Ndia MP Njeru Githae whose background in matter Finance and Accounts are dismal while a first term MP and back bencher Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau bagged a full Cabinet slot.

Pre-poll deal

President Kibaki and former Vice-President Wamalwa Kijana nearly took over the NAPK in 2002, but abandoned the idea after disagreeing with the owner over a pre-election deal.

The party had been formed in 2000 and in 2002, a group of MPs calling themselves progressive forces suggested that all the opposition leaders gravitating around Kibaki and Wamalwa should join the outfit, but the idea was abandoned after the group rejected Nginyo’s terms.