PNU affiliates disown new movement

A new political movement formed by PNU affiliate parties as a vehicle for the 2012 elections has run into obstacles barely four days after its launch.

The Progressive Democratic Movement has been rejected by four parties named as being among its fold.

The Democratic Party, Ford Kenya, Narc Kenya and New Ford Kenya distanced themselves from the movement. Some PNU officials also dismissed PDM and said their party would win the next election.

The movement was announced after a retreat of PNU affiliate parties in Naivasha at the weekend.

DP national chairman Wilfred Machage said the party had nothing to do with PDM and would go it alone in the next general election.

He said the DP would field candidates at all levels, including a presidential candidate, in 2012.

“After the Naivasha retreat, a blanket statement was made by Kiraitu Murungi that all the 22 parties affiliated to PNU had joined the movement. This is false because this is a movement of a few people who want to force it on others,” he said.

He said DP was not ready to be dragged into a coalition that would end up isolating its members like in 2007 when its candidates were forced to contest civic and parliamentary seats under the PNU umbrella.

Ford-K chairman Musikari Kombo said the party would only form a coalition with others after the elections.

On Monday, Narc-K secretary general Danson Mungatana said his party would not join the movement as it was led by people who were positioning themselves for the succession battle.

Ikolomani MP Boni Khalwale, of New Ford-K, accused Mr Murungi and PNU MPs of failing to consult affiliate parties before making the key announcement..