Politicians to ditch parties in defections

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PHOTO | CORRESPONDENT Deputy prime minister Uhuru Kenyatta with Nominated MP Rachael Shebesh during a TNA meeting at the Great Rift Valley Lodge, Naivasha. Recent by-elections have indicated that Mt Kenya voters may be shifting loyalty after TNA candidates won in the region and in those where people from central Kenya are dominant.  NATION MEDIA GROUP

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

IN SUMMARY

• The Elections Act requires parties to submit membership lists which must include the names of their eventual nominees to the electoral commission at least 60 days before the polls
• Recent by-elections have indicated that Mt Kenya voters may be shifting loyalty after TNA candidates won in the region and in those where people from central Kenya are dominant
• Two weeks ago, four Rift Valley MPs — including Cabinet minister Franklin Bett, assistant ministers Magerer Langat and Beatrice Kones and Sotik MP Joyce Laboso — threatened to ditch ODM over the slow pace of the Mau resettlement programme

A major migration of politicians is on as incumbents and aspirants for elective office rush to join parties that are perceived as popular in their areas.

The movement is also meant to beat legal deadlines for pre-election formalities.

The Elections Act requires parties to submit membership lists which must include the names of their eventual nominees to the electoral commission at least 60 days before the polls.

The names of those who hope to participate in party primaries expected in January must be on the lists. They must have been registered members of the parties for at least three months by then.

Internal Security minister Katoo ole Metito and assistant minister Kabando wa Kabando on Monday abandoned the United Democratic Forum (UDF) and declared they will defend their seats through The National Alliance (TNA).

“I will defend my seat through TNA and my earlier association with UDF was exaggerated. I welcomed Mudavadi to the party only as a friend. I also want to make it clear that I am supporting Mr Uhuru Kenyatta for president,” said Mr Metito.

His Loitokitok constituency, which has been renamed Kajiado South, is cosmopolitan with substantial Kikuyu voters while Mr Kabando’s Mukuweini constituency may be flooded by the TNA wave.

Recent by-elections have indicated that Mt Kenya voters may be shifting loyalty after TNA candidates won in the region and in those where people from central Kenya are dominant.

The party won in Kajiado North and Kangema and in five wards, including Eldoret North’s Market.

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At the Coast, Prime Minister Raila Odinga received assistant minister Gonzi Rai, a Ford People MP, who has also been recently associated with the United Republican Party.

And Mr Kabando, who, at the weekend attended a TNA workshop in Naivasha, declared he had left UDF and announced he will officially ditch Safina that sponsored him to Parliament.

“I have severed links with UDF. It has no grassroots support. It is limping, staggering, stammering and it has become an ethnic trumpet,” declared Mr Kabando.

Nominated MP Rachael Shebesh, who has been complaining over alleged intimidation and lack of democracy in ODM, also attended the TNA retreat.

Direct nomination

Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan, formerly a close ally of Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, told the Nation he is moving to TNA due to the demographic factor in the area.

“I am moving to TNA because staying in any other party may be a challenge due to demographic issues in Kamukunji,” the MP said.

Foreign Affairs assistant minister Richard Onyonka may abandon ODM over fears that the party may give a direct nomination to Mr Odinga’s former chief campaigner, Mr James Ongwae, who, like the minister, is running for the Kisii governor’s seat.

“I have information Mr Ongwae will be given direct nomination like happened in 2007,” said Mr Onyonka.

In Ukambani, Kitui West MP Charles Nyamai (Narc) is said to be edging closer to joining Mr Musyoka’s Wiper Democratic Movement after the VP’s party won two civic seats in a by-election in the area.

Two weeks ago, four Rift Valley MPs — including Cabinet minister Franklin Bett, assistant ministers Magerer Langat and Beatrice Kones and Sotik MP Joyce Laboso — threatened to ditch ODM over the slow pace of the Mau resettlement programme.

They later withdrew their threats after Mr Odinga accelerated the resettlement expected to begin next week. Mr Langat returned to the ODM Reloaded team.