Unity key to victory, Uhuru tells allies

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta on Sunday warned of cracks in the PNU Alliance over the choice of a presidential candidate.

Mr Kenyatta said for the Alliance to win the next General Election, there was need for unity among presidential candidates from affiliate parties after nominations for a flag bearer.

He, however, warned of disintegration of the Alliance if losers do not accept defeat.

“Let those who lose in a fair nomination support the winning candidate instead of jumping to another party. That unity is what will take us to State House,” he said.

Already, the field is congested, with other contenders in the race including Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Eldoret North MP William Ruto and Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa, in a coalition that is expected to challenge ODM and Narc-Kenya in the 2012 race.

On Sunday, Mr Kenyatta warned that members of the Alliance had to get it right at the nominations or they risked losing to their opponents.

He was speaking at Ruring’u Stadium in Nyeri County during a prayer meeting attended by over 20 MPs to wish him God’s blessing ahead of his court battle at The Hague.

Mr Kenyatta said disunity gave ODM ammunition to dispute President Kibaki’s victory.

“ODM had the guts to question PNU unity because we had only 40 seats in Parliament. Those from other parties were simply forgotten,” he said.

The Finance minister announced the setting up of a “closing” commission to deal with the resettlement of displaced persons once and for all.

He also promised the waiver of coffee debts in line with the President’s recommendations, a move he said would boost farmers economically as they faced the high cost of living.

Mr Kenyatta caused laughter when he said he restrained himself from calling his political opponents names because he was wary of the Mzalendo Kibunjia-led National Integration and Cohesion Commission.

Mr Musyoka said the African Union, which unanimously supported the bid for deferral of cases at the International Criminal Court, would present Kenya’s petition at the Security Council in July.

“We expect a no or yes vote so we can know whether the court (ICC) is meant for foreigners or Africans,” he said.

ODM was criticised for withdrawing from the Justice and Legal committee, with leaders saying it was a plot to sabotage the implementation of the new Constitution.