It’s not yet Uhuru for TNA in Central

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PHOTO | FILE Special Programmes minister Esther Murugi addresses supporters moments after she handed over the Alliance Party of Kenya offices to TNA in Nyeri town. The minister says calls to join TNA are justifiable as whoever wins the presidential vote will need to have a majority of MPs to be able to transact business.  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By PATRICK NZIOKA pnzioka@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Sunday, November 18  2012 at  00:30

IN SUMMARY

• Being home to the largest number of political parties in the country, insistence by presidential aspirant and TNA party leader Uhuru Kenyatta that all politicians from the region should speak with one voice by joining his party is causing jitters
• While most of the MPs who are the target of the jibes have crossed over and pledged their allegiance to TNA, some have been adamant saying they will not join TNA, no matter what
• The issue of uniting Mt Kenya region behind one party has been a priority for Mr Kenyatta since he joined TNA

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The possibility that Central Kenya might not vote as a block is coming closer to reality with each passing day.

Being home to the largest number of political parties in the country, insistence by presidential aspirant and TNA party leader Uhuru Kenyatta that all politicians from the region should speak with one voice by joining his party is causing jitters.

Matters have not been helped by politicians close to Mr Kenyatta as well as TNA officials who have amplified the same sentiments, leading to suspicions the party is out to stifle freedom of association and the democratic rights of the people in the region.

While most of the MPs who are the target of the jibes have crossed over and pledged their allegiance to TNA, some have been adamant saying they will not join TNA, no matter what.

To begin with, presidential aspirants Martha Karua (Narc-Kenya) and Peter Kenneth (KNC) have told Mr Kenyatta to meet them at the ballot. Ms Karua has been vocal telling Kenyans not to elect the TNA leader as he has a case to answer at the International Criminal Court.

Other leaders include assistant ministers Mwangi Kiunjuri and Nderitu Muriithi who are championing the Grand National Union (GNU) and the United Democratic Forum (UDF) parties, respectively. Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni, who belongs to UDF, is also in this group.

For the record, Mr Kenyatta, in a statement, said Mr Kioni and Mr Muriithi have a right to campaign for people and parties of their choice. He described Mr Kiunjuri as a friend, adding that they differ only on parties, but he respected his decision.

But, as the DPM was giving the assurances, TNA secretary-general Onyango Oloo was telling a forum in Ol Kalou in Nyandarua County that all the parties supporting Mr Kenyatta must dissolve and join TNA.

“There is nothing like GNU or PNU supporting TNA. You are either with us or not. Nobody can say he is supporting Uhuru yet he does not want to join Uhuru’s party. If you love him, close your door and join TNA,” he told the meeting.

The issue of uniting Mt Kenya region behind one party has been a priority for Mr Kenyatta since he joined TNA.

Because of the popularity Mr Kenyatta enjoys in the region, many MPs and aspirants are falling over themselves to join the party in the belief that the race will be half won if one bags the party ticket.

Party offices have sprouted all over in market centres in the region with a town like Nyeri having four. In addition, defections from other parties have become the norm. Narc-Kenya, GNU, DP and UDF parties which have a presence in central Kenya have been the major losers with their members and officials crossing over to TNA.

Two weeks ago, Mr Kenyatta was in Nyeri to receive county council chairman Wachira Keen who moved from GNU.

Mr Keen, who was a founder member of GNU, was supposed to be the running mate for GNU secretary-general Nderitu Gachagua who is running for governor.

Mr Keen will now oppose Mr Gachagua on a TNA ticket.

Those who attended the closed-door meeting at the Outspan Hotel between Mr Kenyatta and the councillors who accompanied Mr Keen, some from as far away as Laikipia County, told the Sunday Nation the issue of politicians from central Kenya not in TNA was discussed, although no concrete decision was made.

Councillors from Laikipia asked for assistance to stem the UDF tide building in their county resulting in the rally last weekend where the issue hit a crescendo with Mr Kenyatta asking voters in the county to “elect a suit” — meaning voting for TNA candidates only – in the coming elections.

In an interview, Mr Keen said he was not coerced into defecting and that he did so after realising that voters had moved to TNA.

“Mr Kenyatta has been categorical that people should support him in TNA to avoid the 2007 experience where there were claims of vote rigging because PNU did not have a majority in Parliament. TNA now looks more acceptable in the region than any other party and likely to cater for the interests of the people,” he said.

Mr Keen is of the opinion that all other parties have been rendered irrelevant and that those who support Mr Kenyatta’s presidential bid should join TNA.

“All we sought to do can now be done better in TNA so all the other parties in Central have become irrelevant in efforts to secure the interests of the region,” he said.

Opinion is divided on whether Mr Kenyatta is reintroducing a culture of intolerance and dictatorship in calling for everyone in the central region to join TNA.

Mr Kioni says he is worried by the DPM’s attitude, saying it would be difficult to trust him with leadership. He insists that people must not be coerced to join parties they do not believe in.

“Such intolerance is worrying and is really not good for the country. I hope this is not something that TNA would want to be associated with,” he said.

Mr Muriithi said he will exercise his freedom as guaranteed by the Constitution to belong to a party of his choice, adding that parties are about ideologies and that his primary interest in joining a party is the good of the country.

“Kenyans have the freedom to make choices on which of the 55 parties one would want to belong to. They will elect a President from the dozen or so candidates which is the essence of democracy,” he added.

Mr Kiunjuri, who is on a tour of China, said TNA should respect his party. “Are those joining TNA doing so out of their love for the DPM or plain opportunism?

We have a new Constitution that guarantees the freedom to associate and belong to a party of one’s choice. No one should be denied such an opportunity,” he said in a telephone interview.