Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Ngilu dumps Raila for an alliance with Uhuru’s TNA



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Water minister Charity Ngilu has switched her alliance from Prime Minister Raila Odinga's ODM to Uhuru Kenyatta's TNA for next year's general election.
According to close aides of Ngilu and Uhuru, the two are in the process of negotiating and signing a pact that will have their two parties—Narc and TNA— enter a pre-election coalition arrangement. On Friday, during her graduation, the Water minister surprised many with her invitation to Uhuru to attend her graduation's after -party.
Uhuru, who had addressed TNA women aspirants earlier in the day at the Bomas of Kenya, was accompanied by Justice minister Eugene Wamalwa to the ceremony where the three posed for pictures.
"We don't currently have a working agreement with Narc but we are open to all political parties that have a common agenda to transform the country," TNA chairman Johnson Sakaja said when asked if TNA and Narc are working together.
However, TNA strategist Moses Kuria revealed that Uhuru and Ngilu began wooing each other in 2010 during the referendum campaigns when the Water minister said she was willing to work together with the DPM and Eugene just like she did with Kibaki and the late Wamalwa Kijana.
"I am not surprised if they work together after she declared publicly in 2010 that she can work with Uhuru and Eugene. After all Ngilu is like minded in terms of policies on water, women and youth empowerment, healthcare etc," Kuria added.
According to Kuria, Uhuru is interested in getting Ngilu to back him since the minister is passionate in what she believes in "Both share values of passionate commitment to public service," Kuria said.
Another Uhuru aide who did not want to be identified said the two have had 'a healthy working' relationship when the the DPM was Finance minister.
"Ngilu invited Uhuru to attend a water sector function. After the event she wrote a note of appreciation addressing Uhuru as 'Your Excellency'. This was a sign that they had something going on politically," the aide said.
The two are also said to have cemented their relationship when Uhuru's MediaMax entered a partnership with Ngilu to acquire shares in her Mbaitu FM radio station, which broadcasts in the Kamba language.
Ngilu is among the list of the growing number of politicians decamping from Raila and ODM to join the TNA or form a coalition with it.
Her move means that, out of the six who formed Raila's campign summit in 2007, only Cooperative minister Joe Nyaga has been left after the exit of William Ruto, Najib Balala and Musalia Mudavadi.
Just two months ago, Ngilu led a delegation of Ukambani leaders to Raila's office where she pledged to work with the PM whom she supported in 2007. She was then being touted as one of the possible candidates for the PM's running mate.
However, last month the minister who is also the Kitui central MP launched her presidential bid which was graced bay among others nominated MP Rachael Shebesh who has since moved from ODM to TNA. Ngilu could not be reached for comment as she did not pick calls to her mobile phone.

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