Key figures behind Jubilee coalition

By Stephen Makabila

KENYA: As the Jubilee Coalition of Uhuru Kenyatta, Musalia Mudavadi, and William Ruto prepare for the March 4 General Election, they will need a network of players to deliver the vote.

Last week the Standard On Sunday brought you the key pillars around Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka, and Moses Wetangula alliance.  Today, we look at the key pillars the Jubilee Coalition will be counting on as vote catchers.

And the decisive moment in the Jubilee Coalition beckons in less than 48 hours, so who are the pillars cutting across camps of Deputy Prime Ministers Uhuru and Musalia, who could propel the coalition to win the General Election?

They vary from some serving ministers in the Grand Coalition Government, legislators, former MPs, businessmen, and aspiring politicians.

The political support the two DPMs, who were presidential running mate in 2002 enjoy, could be complementary, as each has strengths in particular regions.

Of course, there are teething problems in the Jubilee Coalition.

A week ago a group of 40 MPs allied to Uhuru threatened a mass walkout if the Gatundu South MP was not the Jubilee presidential candidate. Nominated MP Rachel Shebesh, for example, said her support for the TNA leader was not transferable to Mudavadi.

Western may also not be enthusiastic about an Uhuru candidature, given the feeling in the region a central Kenya leader should not succeed Kibaki.

Interesting, Uhuru and Mudavadi have no key pillars in Nyanza, perceived to be a stronghold of Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Head of Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Nairobi Adams Oloo says Uhuru and Mudavadi were not interested in finding a pillar in Nyanza because they know it’s a bloc vote for the PM.

Among the key Jubilee pillars in central Kenya, mostly close to Uhuru, is the MP for Mathira, the chairman of the Central Kenya Parliamentary Group, and one of the wealthiest Members of Parliament Eprahim Maina.

 He will be one of the key financiers in the Jubilee Coalition. Although he gets along well with Uhuru, Maina has not shied away from indicating he is open to a Musalia candidature.

Others in Central Kenya region are Nairobi Metropolitan Minister Jamleck Kamau, chairman of the Centre for Multi-Party Democracy, lawyer Justion Muturi, and former minister GG Kariuki.

A lawyer, a gifted debater and strategist, Muturi is credited with reviewing Kanu constitution before Uhuru fled the party. His input in the formation of TNA marks him out as one of the DPM’s formidable allies.  In Nairobi, Jubilee pillars include Public Health minister Beth Mugo, Shebesh, and Makadara MP Gideon Mbuvi ‘Sonko.

Jubilee considers Sonko as a key pillar in their campaigns due to his mobilisation skills and ability to pull crowds. His support is drawn largely from the youth and women, who see him as a fighter for the needy.

Key pillars

In Coast Province, key Jubilee pillars include Ministers Ali Chirau Mwakwere, Naomi Shaban, Garsen MP Danson Mungatana, Kinango MP Gonzi Rai, Mvita MP, Najib Balala, and Lamu East MP Abu Chiaba.

Shaban, the Taveta MP, has been a steadfast supporter of the Deputy Prime Minister, and will be relied on to rally voters.

She will, however, be hard-pressed campaign in a region where ODM remains very strong.

In Nakuru, Jubilee will be banking on area MP Lee Kinyanjui.  Kinyanjui enjoys good support in the cosmopolitan Nakuru County.

 At the initial stages of The National Alliance, Kinyanjui, who is also an assistant minister for Roads, plunged head-on into the campaign to market the unknown outfit to Uhuru supporters in the county a move that has endeared him to the Gatundu South MP’s supporters.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Sam Ongeri will try to deliver the Kisii vote to the Jubilee Coalition presidential candidate, while Defence minister Yusuf Haji will shoulder the same responsibility in North-Eastern Province.

In Western Province, Housing minister Soita Shitanda and Webuye MP Alfred Sambu will carry the Jubilee flag.

Shitanda was among the first leaders from Western Province to support Mudavadi’s presidential bid, while the Sabatia MP was still in ODM. Though he joined the UDF bandwagon a few months back after also bolting from ODM, Sambu is an experienced politician, who will be wading through the ODM wave in Bungoma County.