Nyeri sits on the fence despite the TNA wave

At a glance, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and his party, The National Alliance (TNA), have secured the central Kenya vote. It is, therefore, not surprising that many politicians are falling over themselves to join the party, believing that their races, too, will be won if they bag the party’s nomination.

This has led to confusion best demonstrated by the multiplicity of TNA party offices aspirants are opening in their counties as they try to outdo each other and project themselves as Mr Kenyatta’s pointmen.

In Nyeri town, for instance, there are four TNA offices that have been opened by Special Programmes minister Esther Murugi and MPs Ephraim Maina and Nemesyus Warugongo who all moved to TNA recently after the party started gaining ground in the region.

But keen observers say the confusion exhibited by the politicians best explains the larger picture where voters in the region cannot say with clarity which way they will vote.

Two issues have been identified to explain the state of paralysis bedevilling the region which has the largest number of parties that have refused to dissolve as demanded by Mr Kenyatta.

The DPM has insisted that all other parties in Central should fold and join TNA to speak with one voice as well as increase their bargaining power.

Just as in the Kalenjin community when former President Daniel arap Moi was about to retire, Central Kenya finds itself in the same situation as President Mwai Kibaki nears his retirement. Residents are waiting with bated breath to see whether Mr Kibaki, who holds sway in the region will covertly or openly give the people the direction to follow.

Those interviewed by the Sunday Nation concur that the President’s word will carry weight if and when it is delivered, although they are agreed that it would not be given publicly given his style of doing politics.

It is common knowledge that President Kibaki delivers his political thinking to the people through trusted lieutenants with whom he has worked over the years. Those who have worked with him say he is an expert in getting people to do his bidding and chooses the time to move well.

The time they say may be nigh if some recent events, especially in Othaya, are anything to go by. Last weekend the issue of who should be the next MP was discussed at a meeting of Othaya leaders at a Nyeri hotel.

Key aspirants seeking the ticket include businesswoman and political activist Mary Wambui, city-based lawyer Gichuki Kinga’ara, Othaya Development Association chairman Gichuki Mugambi and businessman Ndiritu Miitei.

Indications that Mr Jimmy Kibaki might not be in the race emerged during the closed-door meeting at the Outspan Hotel organised by influential area business leaders, some of them believed to have links to State House.

Of note was the presence of the President’s daughter, Judy, and an apology from her brother Jimmy.Her presence was seen as the First Family’s blessing to Mr Mugambi’s candidature.

The meeting, according to reliable sources, sought to endorse Mr Mugambi as the favourite to succeed the president in the constituency.

The businessman is said to have the support of many wealthy business people from Chinga location who seem to be the main force behind him.

“If they find me appropriate to lead Othaya, then I’ll have their backing. I can fit in President Kibaki’s shoes,” Mr Mugambi said after the meeting.

During the meeting it was agreed that Ms Wambui be prevailed upon to step aside for the President’s choice.

A senior officer in the security agencies who sought anonymity said in an interview that although Ms Wambui, who has been linked to the first family, is popular on the ground, she may have no choice but to shelve her ambitions if President Kibaki wants someone else.

“She will have to comply otherwise she will have a big fight on her hands if she defies the President. The force which might be unleashed against her will be overwhelming, and I am not sure she would want to find herself in such a situation,” the source said.

Ms Wambui is said to have taken a whole floor in one of the buildings in Othaya town where she plans to set up her campaign secretariat. As late as this week, she has been traversing the constituency announcing her candidature.

But the million-dollar question causing the biggest uncertainty among the people here is whether Mr Kenyatta will contest the Presidency in view of the ICC case against him. Mr Kenyatta and those around him have insisted that his name will be on the ballot.

“Mr Kenyatta is innocent and has no integrity issues, but he has been taken to court, a matter that will be determined in the fullness of time. The Constitution provides for the presumption of innocence which is the cardinal principle in civilised societies.

Anything else is McCarthyism – a practice that at one time prevailed in the US where one would only need to shout that you are guilty and that would form the basis of condemnation,” Mr Kenyatta’s spokesman Munyori Buku said when asked to comment on the predicament facing his boss.

“There should be no doubt that the decision as to who becomes President is solely the decision of the people. Pretenders to democracy have told us so. Why are they changing now? They can change if they want, but democracy does not change,” he said.

But some sections of the community are not convinced. They feel they should not disband their parties yet just in case the deputy premier does not run.

GNU party leader Mwangi Kiunjuri says Mr Kenyatta should allow voters in Central Kenya to elect a candidate of their choice if by any chance he will not be contesting. Alternatively, the DPM can negotiate a coalition with others and seek consensus from parties in Central Kenya to support his choice of president, he adds.

Mr Kiunjuri, whose party has declared it will not fold to join TNA and will field candidates for all other positions but support Mr Kenyatta for the Presidency, has dared the DPM to state publicly that he does not need the support of other parties like GNU.

“Let him declare publicly he does not need support from other parties. Plan B on this issue is clear. If he is not contesting, let the people exercise their freedom to support whoever they want,” he said in an interview.

Additional reporting by Muchiri Gitonga