PNU to consult on bid to pull out of coalition

Party of National Unity affiliated parties will consult on how to pull out of the grand coalition its deputy secretary general Jeremiah Kioni said on Sunday.

Although most of the affiliates had supported its position, there were those who were still reluctant on walking out of the grand coalition, he said.

“We have made the decision (to pull out of the coalition) as a party and we would not have said that without their support. I know a few may say one or two things but we will have their necessary parliamentary support to move on.”

Mr Kioni claimed that by getting approval from affiliates, the PNU arm of the coalition would be able to create a leaner government because it would have parted ways with ODM.

He argued that contrary to popular argument that fresh elections would be conducted should they pull out, the move would in fact give President Kibaki a chance to create a cooperative Cabinet.

“The President will be left with the bus as a driver and will decide who to pick along the way. He can also go back and pick some of those he could have left behind,” he said.

PNU, which is a key party in President Kibaki’s alliance of parties that brought him to power and which is in the coalition with ODM, had last week indicated that it would want its top decision-making organ to call a conference to discuss withdrawal from the grand coalition. (Read: PNU looking to withdraw from Grand Coalition)

The PNU coalition consists of Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka’s ODM-Kenya, Ford Kenya, Ford People, Kanu, Safina, Progressive People’s Party, Chama Cha Uzalendo and Mazingira, among others.

But being a party to another coalition of other parties, some of the affiliates had claimed they would not pull out because they were not ready to do so.

Immediately the decision was made, Ford-People’s Henry Obwocha, Ford Kenya’s Musikari Kombo and Safina’s Paul Muite told the Nation  that they had either not been consulted or were not willing to get out of the Coalition until 2012.

PNU says the incessant conflicts with its partner, ODM, is the key reason why they want to dissolve the grand coalition.

They have cited section 6C of the National Accord and Reconciliation Act, which gives them a way of ending the partnership: By one partner resolving to walk away.

However, PNU will have get a nod from all the affiliates first before it resolves to part ways with ODM.

Trouble between the coalition partners escalated when President Kibaki nominated three officials to serve in the justice system and one to be in charge of the Budget.

ODM argued that the President did not consult the Prime Minister.