Alliance mulls holding presidential nomination

The nascent alliance revolving around Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Eldoret North MP William Ruto and Saboti legislator Eugene Wamalwa is toying with the idea of holding primaries to settle on a 2012 presidential candidate.

Mr Kenyatta said Saturday that the alliance – known in political circles as the G7 - was growing strong by the day and the issue of who would be its flagbearer in next year's polls, would not matter after the decision was made.

“We have decided to move along together and leave it up to Kenyans to decide, who among the four of us, will be the suitable candidate for presidency. This process will not be about picking a candidate because of his popularity in a certain region,” explained Mr Kenyatta.

Housing minister Shoita Shitanda, who is the New Ford Kenya party leader, said the nomination process, would be used to determine the flagbearer for the alliance should the candidates fail to agree.

“We are prepared to do everything possible to ensure that we have a popular and strong candidate who will check on ODM’s Raila Odinga next year,” said Mr Shitanda.

Leaders of the alliance spoke at Malinya market in Ikolomani constituency during a home coming party for MP Dr Bonni Khalwale, who was recently re-elected to Parliament in a mini poll.

Mr Kenyatta, who was accompanied by MPs William Kabogo, Jamleck Kamau and Ferdinand Waititu, flew to the venue in a helicopter causing a big excitement as the crowd fought to catch a glimpse of the Finance minister and his team.

Mr Ruto also arrived at the celebration in a helicopter and was also widely cheered by the crowd as he made his way to the dais.

On his part, Mr Ruto said the UDM, New Ford Kenya and ODM Kenya would not pick its flagbearer based on the regional support of the candidate.

“We are strategising keenly and when we finally unveil our candidate, we shall give our opponents a big shock,” said Mr Ruto.

Mr Wamalwa said leaders in the alliance were confident of bringing together seven million votes and would win next year’s polls with a landslide.

Dr Khalwale said he had been misled to accuse Mr Ruto over the maize scandal in Parliament but he had now realised that he had got it wrong.

The Ikolomani MP said Mr Ruto had stood by him in his campaigns during the by election and now he will take the opportunity to investigate those who are behind the importation of maize into the country.

“I am now back to Parliament and I have asked Mr Ruto and the Finance Minister to shed some more light on the maize scandal and the cemetery saga at the Nairobi City Hall, so that I can be able to expose those behind the scams,” said Mr Khalwale.

ODM MPs Manyala Keya (Lurambi) and Wilber Ottichilo (Emuhaya) attended the celebrations and said voters in Ikolomani had made their stand clear on who they wanted to represent them in Parliament.

“We in ODM had our candidate, we tried our best but the voters in Ikolomani decided to re-elect Khalwale and we respect their decision,” said Mr Keya.

Mr Kenyatta reassured residents of Ikolomani that the government had released money for the tarmacking of the Sigalagala-Butere-Sidindi road.

He said reports that the contractor had been withdrawn from the project after Mr Khalwale was re-elected to Parliament were misleading.