Parties gear up for pre-poll pacts
Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi addresses UDF supporters in Nandi hills in a past function. He is under pressure to dissociate himself with a perception that he is a project of President Kibaki. Photo/FILE
What you need to know:
IEBC, politicians ‘not prepared’
- University of Nairobi lecturer Karuti Kanyinga says that the country is moving to an election yet the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the government and politicians were not fully prepared.
- Prof Kanyinga argues that the Executive and Parliament have not reformed themselves to align their roles with the new Constitution.
- “The Executive and Parliament are lagging behind in anchoring themselves in the new dispensation to make it easy for them to govern,” he said.
- The Judiciary has done it and that is why they have a lot confidence from Kenyans.
As former Attorney-General Amos Wako on Thursday joined Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s ODM to formalise his entry into competitive politics; and Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta prepares to receive high-profile defectors to his The National (TNA) party on Friday, the stage is now set for frenzied movements as politicians position themselves ahead of a fast-approaching deadline against party-hopping. Read (Politicians to ditch parties in defections)
The final six months to the General Election can also expect heightened activity in efforts by competing political groupings to craft workable alliances.
The parties are also working against deadlines to finalise and lodge their own nomination rules as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission gets set to fast-track the delayed voter registration.
With time running out, however, the political scene remained fluid and uncertain with no clear indicators of the alliances to take shape.
Among those expected to join the TNA are two of Mr Odinga’s Nairobi stalwarts, Housing assistant minister Margaret Wanjiru and nominated MP Rachel Shebesh.
More defections across parties are expected in the coming fortnight ahead of the October 17 deadline for aspiring candidates to be registered members of their sponsoring parties.
A lot of activity is also expected in the alliance-building efforts by various groupings.
The G7 Alliance — fronted principally by Mr Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto — brought together with the common objective of stopping Mr Odinga’s march to State House has in recent months seemed to be falling apart as the key players focused on building their individual parties and presidential prospects.
As the clock ticks, the loose umbrella grouping is renewing efforts to craft a either a pre or post-election pact.
Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper Democratic Movement, Kenyatta’s TNA, Mr Ruto’s United Republican Party (URP), and Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa’s New Ford Kenya have reportedly appointed teams to negotiate the shape of the alliance.
There are reports that Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi’s United Democratic Forum (UDF) is also being brought onboard.
Notable ‘third force’ candidates such as Ms Martha Karua of Narc Kenya, Mr Peter Kenneth of Kenya National Congress and Prof James ole Kiyiapi have so far kept out of G7 manoeuvring or ODM’s efforts to broaden its base.
A big complication for G7 is that the parties are looking at each other with suspicion. None of their leaders is willing to put their presidential ambitions on hold.
What they have succeeded so far is in creating regional blocs that have eaten away at Mr Odinga’s national base, but the regional kings now all fancy their own chances at power.
The leaders disagree on the kind of coalition they want; and whether they will front a united presidential campaign, or let each party field its own candidate in the first round and then unite behind the best-placed candidate in a run-off.
While Mr Musyoka would prefer a pre-election coalition, Mr Ruto wants a post-election pact.
And both are suspicious of the aggressive campaign activities of Mr Kenyatta who seems all set to go for the presidency on his own.
At a meeting with councillors set to defect from various parties including President Kibaki’s PNU that has been floundering since the death of its de-facto leader, Internal Security minister George Saitoti, Mr Kenyatta insisted that all candidates supporting his presidential bid must join TNA.
“I want to assure you that TNA is a party of all Kenyans and it is the people who will decide who candidates are through a free and fair process. We must have all our support in one party in order to ensure that our votes are not divided as in 2007,” he said.
Also present were members form Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi’s Alliance Party of Kenya (APK) and assistant minister Mwangi Kiunjuri’s Grand National Union (GNU).
They are among the constellation of parties from central Kenya that have announced support for Mr Kenyatta’s presidential candidacy, but insisted on the right to field their own candidates for National Assembly, Senate, County Governors and County Assemblies.
