"The starting point is that nobody has a right to stop any Kenyan from contesting any seat in the country” URP chairman Francis Kaparo (right). Photo/STEPHEN MUDIARI NATION MEDIA GROUP
By NATION REPORTER
Posted Thursday, January 10 2013 at 21:30
Posted Thursday, January 10 2013 at 21:30
Jubilee coalition parties have moved to avert a clash over nomination zoning by allowing their candidates throughout the country to freely compete.
The agreement was reached following disquiet within The National Alliance (TNA) over plans to lock out some of its strong members from contesting in parts of Rift Valley and northern Kenya, with the previous mapping in the areas having favoured the United Republican Party (URP).
In the earlier plan, TNA was to support URP candidates in two of Nairobi County constituencies, including Lang’ata.
Pastoral counties
URP was also to control all pastoral counties, including parts of Nakuru County, Narok and nearly the entire North Eastern Province.
Some TNA candidates in Rift Valley Province, including Marakwet East MP Jebbi Kilimo and former Cabinet minister Julius Sunkuli have openly criticised the plan.
Mr Sunkuli, who is in TNA, will now face his former Cabinet colleague Stephen ole Ntutu, who is being fronted by URP leader William Ruto.
TNA lawmakers met in Nairobi and resolved that the coalition should do away with the zoning as it could lock out potential candidates.
On Thursday, URP chairman Francis ole Kaparo told the Nation that the plan had been abandoned and that any aspirant within the affiliate parties in the coalition was free to run.
“The starting point is that nobody has a right to stop any Kenyan from contesting any seat in the country. So our understanding now is that no party can stop any contestant from running,” Mr Kaparo stated.
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