Kosgey returns to public glare
What you need to know:
- ODM chairman leads officials in collecting registration papers and declares his party the one to beat
Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey on Wednesday returned to the limelight as he led ODM officials to collect the party’s registration certificate.
Mr Kosgey, the party chairman, declared that ODM was the only outfit capable of delivering the goods to Kenyans.
His stand could boost ODM’s fortunes in the Rift Valley where Eldoret North MP William Ruto has been selling the United Republican Party of Kenya.
Awaiting verdict
Mr Kosgey has been missing from the political scene since he was linked to the post-election violence cases at the ICC. He was subsequently cleared.
Four more parties were given certificates, bringing to 14 out of 51 those cleared to participate in political activities ahead of Monday’s deadline.
Another 21 parties are awaiting the verdict of Registrar of Political Parties Lucy Ndung’u, who is vetting their level of compliance with the Political Parties Act.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Orange party and the Alliance Party of Kenya (APK), both associated with key presidential hopefuls in the next elections, became the latest parties to be awarded certificates.
And in a sign of the frenzied political activity expected in the country, the two parties’ followers were involved in a show of might as they attempted to shout each other out’s slogans outside the registrar’s office.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga is ODM’s presidential candidate while the APK is associated with Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and Internal Security Minister Prof George Saitoti.
The party was previously called PNU Alliance but Prof Saitoti’s associates in the Party of National Unity have asked that it drops the acronym.
Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi led APK officials to the registrar’s office.
Earlier, the registrar issued certificates to the Kenya National Congress (KNC), who presidential candidate is assistant minister Peter Kenneth, the Party of Action led by former Cabinet minister Raphael Tuju and President Kibaki’s former outfit, the Democratic Party.
KNC’s certificate was collected by Mr Kenneth while Mr Tuju, also a contender for the presidency, picked up the POA certificate. Former Minister Joseph Munyao received the certificate on behalf of DP, the second oldest party after Kanu.
Mr Kiraitu said APK changed its name to ensure voters did not confuse it with PNU.
“We will bring Mr Musyoka, Mr Kenyatta and Prof Saitoti together and let them select one among them as the candidate. This bus (the party symbol) has many seats and everyone is welcome,” Mr Murungi said.
