Sunday, November 4, 2012

I’ll run the full course, Kenneth tells supporters


  SHARE BOOKMARKPRINTRATING
A banner displayed at the official launch of Peter Kenneth's presidential campaign at the KICC on November 04, 2012. PHOTO / WILLIAM OERI
A banner displayed at the official launch of Peter Kenneth's presidential campaign at the KICC on November 04, 2012. PHOTO / WILLIAM OERI 
By DAVE OPIYO dopiyo@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Sunday, November 4  2012 at  00:30
IN SUMMARY
  • Kenneth will vie for the top seat on a Kenya National Congress ticket, whose slogan is “Tunawesmake (Sheng for ‘We can make it’)”
  • There have been claims that the Gatanga MP will eventually opt out of the contest to run for Nairobi governor, but he said he had no such plans
  • Citing his successes as the Kenya Football Federation chairman, he said if elected president, Kenya would have a new leadership that would move the country forward
SHARE THIS STORY

Planning assistant minister Peter Kenneth launched his bid for the presidency on Sunday at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC).
He will vie for the top seat on a Kenya National Congress ticket, whose slogan is “Tunawesmake (Sheng for ‘We can make it’)”.
On Saturday, Mr Kenneth told the Sunday Nation that he is in the race “all the way to the wire”.
There have been claims that the Gatanga MP will eventually opt out of the contest to run for Nairobi governor, but he said he had no such plans.
“I was the first politician to clearly say that I will not run for MP, senator, governor or any other position, save for the presidency. Those who are purporting to offer me positions, what are they fearing?”
“Why would I be launching a full-fledged presidential campaign if I know very well that I will not be on the ballot in four months’ time?” he asked. “I am in the presidential race to stay – till the very end.”
Citing his successes as the Kenya Football Federation chairman, he said if elected president, Kenya would have a new leadership that would move the country forward.
“I did it in football; I will do the same for the country,” he said.
“It’s now up to Kenyans to either elect the same people they have elected over the past 49 years, who have not brought any meaningful changes to their lives, or they can elect fresh leadership that will propel the country to greater heights,” he added.
With his opponents busy forging alliances ahead of the March 4 General Election, Mr Kenneth said he was not losing sleep over it.
He admitted he had met with some of the presidential aspirants but said none of the meetings had been to discuss an alliances. Mr Kenneth said he would only be open to alliances with leaders whose main agenda was to work for the country and solve its problems.
He dismissed some of the alliances being mooted ahead of the elections as tribal.
“Let us not bury our heads in the sand by forming coalitions that are tribal or regionally based, which are meant to hide the weaknesses of certain leaders from Kenyans. The coalitions that will work are those whose main agenda is to move Kenya forward. I approve any coalition built around adding value to leadership and sorting out Kenya’s problems.”
Mr Kenneth is yet to name a running mate. He said two critical dates in the country’s political calendar may play a major role on the individual he finally settles on.
The first one is December 4, when all aspirants are supposed to have formalised their coalition agreements and deposited them with the Registrar of Political Parties.
The other is the January 4 deadline when politicians will be barred from switching parties.
“These two dates are important in deciding who will add value to my presidency. I am looking at someone who can stand in for me.”
He said his campaign will be issue-based with his main focus being youth empowerment.
“Unemployment among the youth is alarming. As the years go by, this number continues to rise. This tells you that more people will be going into the job market, stretching the few job opportunities that are already there,” he said.
“We must tackle these issues through effective leadership. It is time to break from the past.”

No comments:

Post a Comment