Nairobi — THE battle for the control of Kanu has crystallised over the question of who will provide the Sh60 million needed to fund the party's national delegates conference.

Kanu last held national elections in 2005 when Chairman Uhuru Kenyatta beat off a challenge from former bigwig Nicholas Biwott, who has since formed the New Vision Party. Kanu was supposed to conduct elections last month as per the constitution that stipulates that polls should take place every five years.

Uhuru as chairman is supposed to convene the conference but appears reluctant to do so as his vice-chairman Gideon Moi intends to mount a strong leadership challenge against him. Uhuru is technically no longer chairman, as according to the party constitution, the five-year mandate of office bearers has lapsed.

Pro-Gideon party officials are planning to go to court to declare all seats vacant and force the elections to take place immediately, the Star was told last night. Neither Uhuru nor Moi is willing to take full responsibility of funding the NDC whose date is yet to be fixed.

Uhuru supporters say he has refused to foot the bill not because of lack of cash but because he believes the Moi faction has for too long left him responsible for Kanu's financial burden.

Uhuru is angry that, apart from contributions by the 15 Kanu MPs, he has been footing all other expenses directly from his pocket.

But Gideon Moi, the former Baringo central MP, has accused Uhuru and his supporters of "using delaying tactics to stop the national delegates conference".

He said funding the NDC is a non-issue because Kanu is entitled to an allocation from the Political Parties Fund and if there is a shortfall, party members will decide what to do.

" They can not afford to keep creating excuses. Like the sun which rises daily from the east, Uhuru and his colleagues have no option but to call the NDC soon," Stated Moi.

Another Kanu vice chairman and Uhuru supporter, Marsden Madoka, said the chairman's office had drawn up budgetary estimates for the conference of Sh60 million.

"We have not met as NEC (national executive committee) to discuss any election budget but I know that some estimates have been worked out and will be presented to NEC when we meet next," Madoka told the Star.

He said funds expected from the Political Parties Fund kitty would be used to support grassroots election and insisted that the party was united.

Most of the 15 Kanu MPs support Uhuru as not one was elected from Moi's North Rift region. Rift Valley only has one Kanu MP- Naivasha's Mututho who is also allied to Uhuru.

"When it is a matter of funding, the party belongs to Uhuru. When it is politics, the party is theirs," quipped an MP allied to Uhuru about the Gideon faction.

Retired President Daniel arap Moi has reportedly refused to fund the elections as he is no longer in control of the party.

In 2008 the new Political Parties Act stipulated that all vacant positions should be filled after the exodus of officials to ODM and ODM-K. Uhuru remained chairman but Gideon filled one of the four vacant vice-chairman posts along with Madoka and two others.

However problems arose in clearing bills after the 2008 NDC.

Yesterday, Kanu organising secretary Justin Muturi, another Uhuru ally, downplayed the funding issue.

"No, the delay is not about funding. We wanted to do our party elections very early but we could not do them now because our attention was on the constitution review process," said Muturi.

He said the party was financed by its 15 elected MPs.

Each MP contributes Sh20,000 per month bringing the total revenue to Sh300,000 per month.

The party is yet to receive money from the Registrar of Political Parties since Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua went to court to block PNU affiliates from receiving their share of the money.

According to the NDC budget, the organizers plan to host up to 20,000 delegates in Nairobi for the NDC.

At least Sh2,000 will be given to Nairobi delegates as transport reimbursement while those from upcountry will get up to Sh7,000 as transport allowance. Those will also be given extra for accommodation.

In addition grassroots elections at 27,500 centres from sub location, location and branch elections are expected to cost Sh40 million.

The plan to involve the Interim Independent Electoral Commission at the grassroots has also pushed up the election bill.

The Uhuru side wants the IIEC to participate to ensure a free and fair election.

Uhuru is also apparently angry that he has been paying the rent for the Kanu headquarters without help from the Gideon side.

Last month Kanu headquarters in Nairobi's Kilimani was shut for nonpayment of rent. The owners, Sportsmen Safaris and Tours Limited, were demanding rent arrears of about Sh390, 000 for the last quarter of 2009.

The party used to pay Sh130,000 per month but it has signed a new lease that will see the rent go up to Sh185,000 per month, paid quarterly in advance.

In 2011 the rent will increase to Sh203,500 per month.

Muturi yesterday said the issue of rent had already been sorted out and the offices reopened. He said a cheque from Parliament had delayed occasioning the hitch.

"There is normally the cheque off system since our Kanu MPs contribute, but the cheque had delayed and that has now been sorted out," said Muturi.