Scramble for TNA ticket hots up

By Moses Njagih and Lonah Kibet

The battle for The National Alliance (TNA) party ticket was upped after aspirants called for their involvement in party affairs.

At the same time, rival PNU announced it would support the party’s candidate.

In what appeared as a fight to ensure that the aspirants are not left out during the drawing up of nomination rules mainly by those already holding positions, the aspirants called for a 50-50 representation percentage in meetings for key party deliberations.

The aspirants told Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta to ensure that the nomination process in the party was fair to ensure that incumbents do not benefit from undue advantage.

And as the jostling for the party’s ticket intensified, PNU acting chairman Gideon Konchella announced that the party would go for primaries under a coalition agreement, to ensure victory at the presidency and also other elective positions.

“The salient points of our agreement will be to achieve electoral victory in the coming elections for all elective positions countrywide. PNU will therefore not field individual candidates for any elective position in the upcoming elections, other than through the coalition framework,” announced the Kilgoris MP.

welcomed decision

TNA immediately welcomed the decision by PNU, who had initially appeared to ignore prospects of working under a coalition and supporting Uhuru for the presidency.

TNA chairman Johnson Sakaja welcomed the move, saying the party was willing to work with parties that believe in “transformative agenda”.

But the call to ensure equal representation between incumbents and aspirants in the party’s decision-making meetings was the key resolution held at Ufungamano House in Nairobi and chaired by Kieni parliamentary aspirant Mathenge wa Simon.

Mathenge had earlier warned that the nomination process within the party would be a key test for the outfit.

“The manner in which we conduct our nominations will be a key test to our ideals and it is paramount that we beat our opponents in this by conducting fair and democratic processes, without subjecting anybody, aspirant or incumbent, to undue advantage,” said Mathenge.

The aspirants’ lobby group also called for women and youth aspirants who will be unable to raise the set nomination fee but are capable of delivering their seats to be exempted from paying the amount by the party.

Uhuru for the umpteenth time promised that the party would not favour any individual in the nominations.

Uhuru, who came to the meeting accompanied by new party ‘converts’, Nominated MP Rachel Shebesh and Makadara MP Gidion Mbuvi, said he would also rise against the temptations to favour anyone.

“We want Kenyans to make their independent decisions. This is the people’s party and I am one of the aspirants also asking for your votes and those of Kenyans. I will not interfere with the nomination process nor endorse any candidate directly,” Uhuru said.

He appealed to the aspirants to help in the building of the party to ensure they win the presidency in the first round. But the presidential aspirant also appealed to the hopefuls to ensure that they support whoever will win in the nomination process for respective positions, without jumping ship in protest.

Shebesh and Mbuvi urged the aspirants to ensure they support the party’s presidential candidate to the end even if they lose at the nominations.

“When you say that you are going to support TNA, no one should later say that they would not continue if they fail to get a ticket, as long as the nominations are free and fair. We have to believe in the party’s leadership and that is why I can say that I believe in Uhuru Kenyatta,” Ms Shebesh said to the applause of the aspirants.

Secretary General Onyango Oloo also reiterated the party’s desire to ensure free, fair and transparent nominations. “We shall treat all candidates the same and as the secretary general I will not sign any nomination certificate of a candidate who has lost, it is the will of people that will prevail,” said Oloo.

structures

He urged the aspirants to continue building the grassroots structures and assured the candidates who lose in the nomination that they would be considered for appointive positions if TNA forms the next government.

Elsewehere, Mkenya Solidarity party got a setback on Monday after its leader GG Kariuki decamped to TNA.

This follows months of wrangles between him and former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga for control of the party.

GG who is vying for the Laikipia County senate seat joined TNA at a meeting held in his home in Rumuruti that had been convened by Laikipia West TNA interim chairman JM Kagunda and his Laikipia East counterpart Christopher Maitho.

GG said he always wanted to support Uhuru in his bid but it had proved to be difficult to do so outside TNA especially with the wrangles that have rocked Mkenya Solidarity Party.