Patrick Nzioka
13 July 2008
Nairobi — Political realignment in Central Kenya is set for another turn after current and former members of parliament made it public that they are in the process of launching a new political party, the Grand National Union.
Although no one is talking about it, the new party is another attempt by leaders to position the region for the 2012 elections after the exit of President Kibaki, who comes from the region.
Jolted by the events that followed last year's elections and mainly the post-election violence that left many displaced from their homes, mostly in Rift Valley, the need to secure the future and welfare of the communities from Central Kenya has gained heightened urgency.
Low-key meeting
A low-key meeting in Nyeri last weekend might have escaped scrutiny but it is said that those who attended are convinced the best way for the community would be popularising another party.
The promoters of the party say that the people and their leaders need a vehicle through which they can consult with others interested in the presidency. They have made it clear that they are not interested in the presidency. And that is the crux of the matter.
Those from the region such as Justice minister Martha Karua, who has expressed her desire to run for the seat in the next elections, seem to be the target.
Narc-Kenya, whose nomination Ms Karua says she would seek, seems to have boxed itself into a corner after she announced her intentions. Leaders who previously supported Narc-K now accuse its top leadership of not being keen on consultations, among other issues.
During the meeting on Saturday night, Water and Irrigation assistant minister Mwangi Kiunjuri and former MPs Nderitu Gachagua and Joshua Toro met in Nyeri town and discussed plans to launch GNU.Also at the meeting at Mr Gachagua's residence at the posh Ring-Road Estate were more than 20 civic leaders from Nyeri County Council.
Mr Gachagua, who is the party's interim secretary-general, told reporters that the party would target young people in its recruitment drive, expected to start after its launch soon. Mr Toro is the party's interim chairman while Mr Kiunjuri is the interim party leader.
Were short-changed
Mr Gachagua said several sitting MPs were members of the party. He said most of the founder members of Narc-K were short-changed when the party filled national positions recently.
Before the meeting, Mr Kiunjuri announced the formation of the party at a public rally in Mukurwe-ini and urged leaders, including Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and Ms Karua, to join it.
It is instructive that Mr Kiunjuri talked of the new party during the homecoming party for the Mukurwe-ini MP Kabando wa Kabando, where some of the speakers lobbied the Gema communities to support Mr Musyoka as their presidential candidate in 2012.
Mr Musyoka, who was the chief guest, shied away from the debate saying that leaders should focus on serving Kenyans as it was too early to start talking of elections.
Although they deny it, those fronting GNU seem to have been frustrated after Narc-K confirmed Ms Karua as the chairperson before she declared her intention to vie for the presidency in 2012. Narc-K will therefore compete with the new party for support in the region, where it is thought to draw its initial support.
Mr Kiunjuri denies they are out to frustrate Narc-K and, by extension, Ms Karua's bid for the presidency, saying the party was registered long before she declared her interest in the top seat.
He says the party was registered last year before the elections and was one of the Party of National Unity affiliates whose nomination ticket President Kibaki considered to vie for his second term.
Frustrating her
"Both the Grand National Union and Narc-Kenya are affiliates of PNU, so the question of frustrating her bid does not arise," Mr Kiunjuri said in a telephone interview with the Sunday Nation. It was registered on November 18, 2007, and is the only party in PNU that is up to date with its membership after paying the necessary fees, he adds.
Mr Gachagua says the launch of the party has nothing to do with Ms Karua's bid for the presidency. All they are interested in, he says, is a national party that has the welfare of the community and the youth of this country at heart.
Both say their choice of a presidential candidate will be informed by consultations with other parties with a view to arriving at one person fit for the seat.
The assistant minister says the party is even ready to support Ms Karua, Prime Minister Raila Odinga or Mr Musyoka if they convince them they will prioritise the welfare of the community.
But assistant minister Danson Mungatana, who is the Narc-K secretary-general, has dismissed GNU saying it has no chance of survival just like all other region-based parties that will be swept aside in the implementation of the Political Parties Act, which is touted as the solution to the large number of dormant political parties, some of which are briefcase outfits.
"I have talked to Kiunjuri and told him that regional parties cannot work in this country. No one will want to be associated with such parties while the next president will come from a national party, Narc-Kenya included," he said in a telephone interview.
Mr Mungatana defended Narc-K over allegations that Ms Karua did not consult other leaders before she declared her intention to be a presidential candidate, saying she had every right to do so.
The party will however conduct nominations to identify its presidential candidate when the time comes, he said. He added that Narc-K would be the party to watch in the next elections.
Kenyans will be watching to see whether the party whose offices are in Nairobi and whose promoters say its officials will "represent the face of Kenya" will have any impact.
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