Kiraitu party defies calls to join TNA

Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi’s Alliance Party of Kenya of Friday defied calls by Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta to join his outfit — The National Alliance.

This is despite delegates who met in Nairobi endorsing Mr Kenyatta as their preferred presidential candidate.

Mr Kenyatta got 195 of the votes cast against Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka’s 58, and was announced the leader the party will support for the presidency in the upcoming General Election.

But speaking after the vote, APK deputy leader Lenny Kivuti said that this did not mean that the party will not field candidates in other positions.

Field candidates

“There is now no doubt on who the driver of the bus is and we are sending him out to talk to other friendly presidential candidates so that they can give us direction. But APK will still field candidates in all other positions and will not be swallowed by any other party,” Mr Kivuti said. APK is popularly known as ‘The Bus Party’.

Addressing the delegates earlier, Mr Murungi made similar remarks, saying that APK was a distinct party that was strong enough to win as many seats as possible.

Manyatta MP Emilio Kathuri and his Imenti North counterpart Silas Muriuki said APK will seek an agreement with TNA that will ensure the latter does not field candidates in areas where the bus will be having aspirants.

But speaking at the Bomas of Kenya where TNA was holding a women’s forum, Mr Kenyatta said he expects all parties to unite under one umbrella in order to have a decisive win.