Nairobi — Kanu plans to pull out of its partnership with PNU before the 2012 General Election, former Baringo Central MP Gideon Moi said Thursday.

The youngest son of former president Moi said officials had embarked on a mission to revitalise the party in Rift Valley.

Mr Moi said that the party would also be holding a delegates conference to elect new officials who will be tasked with preparing the party for the 2012 General Election.

"In future, Kanu will go it alone and that is the reason the delegates will be given the opportunity to decide who the bona fide party officials are as well as defining party strategies for future elections," he told the press in Kericho Thursday.

Mr Moi was campaigning for the party's candidate in the forthcoming by-election for the Ainamoi parliamentary seat, Mr Paul Chirchir.

He said that Kanu will pose a stiff challenge to ODM and PNU in future polls.

Kanu held its delegates conference in November last year during which it resolved to rally behind President Kibaki, who was running on a PNU ticket.

At Thursday's event, Mr Moi and former nominated MP Ezekiel Barngetuny appealed for unity among the Kalenjin people to back Mr Chirchir, but changed his mind and declared he was still in the running.

Mr Chirchir faces stiff competition from Mr Benjamin Langat (ODM), Mr Paul Chepkwony (UDM), Mr John Kibet Keino (Agano) and Mr Sigey.

Was fatally shot

The seat fell vacant after Mr David Kimutai Too of ODM was fatally shot within a month of his election.

In Embakasi constituency, the PNU candidate, Mr Ferdinand Waititu, yesterday embarked on a door-to-door campaign ahead of the by-election.

He toured Ruai, Mihango, Utawala and other areas.

Embakasi has also attracted ODM's Esther Passaris who, with Mr Waititu, are seen as front-runners in the race for the seat left vacant following the killing of former MP Melitus Mugabe Were.

Reported by Sollo Kiragu, Walter Menya and Mike Mwaniki