PNU may not field own presidential candidate

PNU may not field own presidential candidate

WEDNESDAY, 25 JULY 2012 00:03 BY WALTER MENYA

The Party of National Unity is not likely to field a presidential candidate in the general election, acting chairman and Kilgoris MP Gedion Konchellah has said. Konchellah said the party will support whoever the G7 Aalliance democratically picks to fly its flag in the Election. However, the acting chairman, who was speaking to journalists at Parliament buildings hastened to add that the final decision on whether party will field its own presidential candidate or not will be made by the National Executive Committee.

The Kilgoris MP was picked to head the party after the death of former chairman and presidential hopeful George Saitoti in a chopper crash on June 10 alongside his internal security assistant minister Orwa Ojodeh, two body guards and two crew members. The crash is now the subject of a commission of inquiry headed by appellate judge Kalpana Rawal.

The G7 Alliance comprises several political parties opposed to ODM. Some of those include The National Alliance of Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, William Ruto's URP and Wiper Democratic Movement of Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka. Meanwhile, the PNU NEC will meet at the end of month to confirm Konchellah in the position of chairman. Konchellah said the meeting will come up with strategies to defend the Kajiado North and Kangema parliamentary seats that were left vacant following the death of Saitoti and former environment minister John Michuki. “Being a national party, we shall also contest in Ndhiwa constituency,” said Konchellah.