Bible in hand, Central MPs pledge to support Uhuru

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta has moved to consolidate his support in central Kenya as he prepares to unveil the party that will shape his political future.

MPs and civic leaders who were previously said to be opposed to the DPM are trooping back to Mr Kenyatta’s camp, demonstrating an awakening that is raising eyebrows of friend and foe.

The latest to demonstrate their support for Mr Kenyatta was a group of Murang’a MPs whose relationship with the DPM has not been warm.

The MPs took advantage of a party to celebrate the appointment of Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau to the Cabinet to pledge their loyalty to Mr Kenyatta.

But what caught the attention of those present was the extent to which the MPs went to show their conversion; holding a Bible, the four — Jamleck Kamau, Clement Wambugu (Mathioya), Elias Mbau (Maragua) and Maina Kamau (Kandara) — declared that they had been “fully converted” to the Kenyatta camp.

The MPs had earlier been challenged to state which side of the political divide they were on. They did not mince words in saying they were fully behind the DPM.

Mr Kamau, the Kigumo MP, then invited them to hold a Bible and together pledge their loyalty to Mr Kenyatta.

“Let us vow to remain united and desist from divisive politics; we will work together for the good of our people,” said the new minister amidst cheers from the crowd.

Mr Kenyatta, who has President Kibaki’s ear, is widely believed to have lobbied for Mr Kamau’s appointment.

It was Juja MP William Kabogo who first asked that those purporting to support Mr Kenyatta be sincere and stop changing their allegiance, a statement which seemed to be directed at Mr Mbau, who has previously kept the company of Mr Kenyatta’s rival for the presidential seat, Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth.

Mr Mbau, the Parliamentary Budget Committee chairman, struck a new tone and declared that the legislators from the area were “solidly behind Mr Kenyatta’s candidature” and thanked President Kibaki for appointing Mr Kamau minister.

This is despite having turned down a “unity luncheon” to which they had been invited by the minister at the Inter-Continental Hotel, Nairobi.

“As Murang’a MPs, we are solidly behind you, and we want to ask that there be an end to divisive politics,” Mr Mbau told the DPM.

After his appointment, Mr Kamau had attempted to reach out to Murang’a MPs by inviting them to lunch, but they declined the offer, insisting that they needed no unity talks as they were already working together.

“He (Kamau) has always cut a lone image, and he cannot claim to unite us; we have always worked together to tackle issues that affect Murang’a.

“We pleaded with the President to bail out coffee farmers, but he (Mr Kamau) was not there,” Mr Mbau said in an earlier telephone interview with the Sunday Nation.

But Mr Kamau hosted Murang’a leaders, including councillors, in Nairobi and later at the legendary Blue Posts Hotel in Thika where they pledged to support him as well as Mr Kenyatta.

Councillors who were previously supporting the candidature of Mr Kenneth and Prime Minister Raila Odinga switched camps and declared their support for Mr Kenyatta.

Of particular interest during the Thika meeting was the presence of Murang’a mayor Ms Mercy Kimwe who has been an ardent supporter of Mr Kenneth. She said she would henceforth support Mr Kenyatta.

During last week’s homecoming meeting, Mr Mbau said: “We launched the PNU Alliance in the whole county recently, but it would be good to know which party you will be in so that we can have direction.”

Kandara’s Maina Kamau echoed the sentiments and denied having supported any other candidate. Mr Wambugu called for unity and pledged to support the DPM.

Kiharu MP Muturi Mwangi was not present at the Kigumo grounds where the party was held, but he had been in the G7 entourage and even spoke at Kenol township.

In the next two weeks Mr Kenyatta is expected to unveil The National Alliance (TNA) as the political vehicle he will use to seek the presidency. (READ: Uhuru to rename party for coalition with allies)

The Sunday Nation has learnt that the party will be launched at a “glamorous” ceremony that will also bring together key G7 Alliance leaders.

Mr Kenyatta and his allies have taken over the National Alliance Party of Kenya, associated with veteran Kiambu politician Nginyo Kariuki.

As they await the registration certificate, the party has applied to have the name changed to The National Alliance.

On Saturday, Mr Kariuki, who is also the party chairman, said there have been negotiations between the party and Mr Kenyatta. He said details on the progress would be released to the public in two weeks.

Mr Kariuki spoke to journalists at the party’s delegates’ meeting in Kiambu on Friday evening. He said NAPK had fully complied with the Political Parties Act and forwarded details to the Registrar of Political Parties and are waiting for the certificate.

The new party is said to be run by professionals under 35 as Mr Kenyatta, aides familiar with the plans say, wants to have a “youthful” outfit to run his campaign. As a result, the party has no youth wing and instead has a council of elders, according to insiders.

Politicians from different parties allied to Mr Kenyatta held a meeting last week in which they discussed the options of having a pre-election coalition.

Bjarte Tora, formerly of Centre for Multi-Party Democracy, took the group through formation of coalitions using examples from Scandinavian countries.

MPs Abdul Bahari and Jeremiah Kioni of UDF, Kiraitu Murungi and Titus Ibui of APK, Chris Murungaru of DP, Mwangi Kiunjuri and Nderitu Gachagua of GNU and Stephen Karau of Gema attended.

Mr Kenyatta was represented by his aides, David Murathe and Justin Muturi. Mr Muturi said no concrete decisions were made but discussions would continue.

– Additional reporting by Eric Wainaina