G7 sets up team to breathe life into pre-poll coalition

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By BERNARD NAMUNANE bnamunane@ke.nationmedia.com AND ISAAC ONGIRI iongiri@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Monday, September 24  2012 at  23:30

IN SUMMARY

• The parties aim to consolidate support and contain Prime Minister Raila Odinga ahead of the March 14 elections.
• On Monday, the nature of engagement was unclear but the Nation established that TNA had opened the door to presidential aspirants from rival parties.

Political parties under the loose G7 Alliance have set up teams to lead talks on a pre-election coalition.

The National Alliance (TNA), Wiper Democratic Party (WDP), United Democratic Forum (UDF), United Republican Party (URP) and New Ford Kenya are making another attempt to reach a deal on fielding one presidential candidate.

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta’s TNA at the weekend appointed Gachoka MP Mutava Musyimi to lead talks with Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper, Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi’s UDF, Eldoret North MP William Ruto’s URP and Justice minister Eugene Wamalwa’s New Ford-K.

The parties aim to consolidate support and contain Prime Minister Raila Odinga ahead of the March 14 elections.

On Monday, the nature of engagement was unclear but the Nation established that TNA had opened the door to presidential aspirants from rival parties.

“We agreed that we urgently need to engage leaders from other political parties to consolidate support for the presidential elections,” said assistant minister Kareke Mbiuki.

He said only candidates who can work with the TNA leader will be involved. “We resolved that it is important to talk to Ruto, Kalonzo, Mudavadi and Wamalwa,” he said.

The Wiper party named Defence assistant minister David Musila, nominated MP Mohamed Affey, Kaiti MP Gideon Ndambuki and Prof Marete Marangu to the team.

The UDF has a political council that will lead the talks. Its members are MPs Abdikadir Mohamed, Jeremiah Kioni, Yusuf Chanzu, Ndiritu Mureithi and George Nyamweya.

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Nominated MP Musikari Kombo leads the New Ford-K team while the URP team could not be established at the time of going to press.

URP chairman Francis ole Kaparo said: “Not yet. We have not formed a team and I am not aware of any.”

Additional report by Kitavi Mutua