Former President Moi has expressed concern that lack of clear leadership in Kanu will lead to its deregistration as a party. In apparent reference to a move by party chairman Uhuru Kenyatta to postpone the National Delegates Conference, Moi said the possibility of Kanu being deregistered is causing concern among party members. "Lack of clear, sincere and responsible leadership in the party may lead to its deregistration if it does not comply with the Political Parties Act. This spectre of a possible deregistration is causing the genuine party members great concern, frustration and anxiety," stated Moi through his spokesman, Lee Njiru.
The retired president, who handed over the leadership of Kanu to Uhuru in 1992, said he cannot keep quiet when the party is in danger. Moi Preferred Uhuru as his heir to Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, ministers George Saitoti and Musalia Mudavadi. "As a Kanu life member, I should not be silent on such a crucial matter. Since the majority of Kanu members come from the Rift Valley, we should strengthen the party there and preach peace to avoid a recurrence of violence," Moi said.
He said it is sad that the delegates conference has become an on-and-off affair. "'It is unfeeling for the Kanu leadership to keep on announcing dates for the national delegates conference and later postponing them without adequate notice and credible reason. Delegates feel insulted when they travel from such distant places as Mandera, Moyale and Lokitaung at great expense in terms of money and time only to be told the conference had been postponed indefinitely," Moi said.
On Wednesday, the Star established that Uhuru plans to join a new political party that has been identified by his close ally former Siakago MP Justin Muturi. The party is the National Alliance Party of Kenya which is led by veteran politician and businessman Nginyo Kariuki, according to inside sources.
Preparations for activating the new party were behind the postponement of the Kanu National Delegates Conference which was slated for tomorrow. No new date has been set for the NDC. Kanu now risks being deregistered at the end of April until it complies with the Political Parties Act. “We are growing tired of this party. It reaches a point when you want to give all the confusion around it a break and start off afresh,” a Kanu insider who is Uhuru supporter said.
Uhuru had at one point considered Kanu as his election vehicle because of its infrastructure across the country. With his blessing, the party re-branded last December. However he was advised that it was difficult to sell Kanu, especially in his home area of Central. Uhuru's spokesman Munyori Buku yesterday said Kenyans should wait for the DPM to announce his choice.
He said Uhuru's announcement in Limuru last Friday did not mean he had quit Kanu. “Saying 'I will announce which party in a month's time' does not exclude Kanu. It's also a party!” Buku told the Star. Yesterday, Muturi blamed Gideon Moi's faction for creating obstacles to Kanu's compliance with the Political Parties Act. Muturi, along with Vice chair Amina Abdallah and Deputy Secretary Moitalel ole Kenta, said Moi's group had refused to withdraw court cases barring fresh recruitment.
“Despite several assurances by the SG (Salat) that they will withdraw cases filed against the Chairman and the party in various courts and as agreed during several NEC meetings held in January and February, the SG has failed, refused and neglected to do so," they said. "The cases actually portend to have a restraining effect on the recruitment and registration of new members and the overall process towards compliance,” a statement signed by the three said.
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