Sunday, January 13, 2013

Rivals prepare for tough nomination fight


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PHOTO | STEPHEN MUNDIARI Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru during a rally at Kamukunji grounds in Kibera, Nairobi, on January 6, 2013.
PHOTO | STEPHEN MUNDIARI Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru during a rally at Kamukunji grounds in Kibera, Nairobi, on January 6, 2013.  NATION MEDIA GROUP
By SUNDAY NATION Team newsdesk@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Sunday, January 13  2013 at  00:30
IN SUMMARY
  • Aspirants for various positions across the country express concern over the integrity of primaries planned for Thursday
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Political intrigues and jostling for big party tickets reached fever pitch on Saturday as aspirants for various seats across the country made last-ditch efforts to woo voters ahead of the nominations on Thursday.
Jubilee coalition aspirants jammed the official presidential launch at Uhuru Park forcing the event’s organisers to change the day’s programme to accommodate them.
Many aspirants ferried supporters to the venue in a show of might.
Embakasi MP Ferdinand Waititu and his Makadara counterpart, Mr Mike Mbuvi, sought to dwarf their opponents in the numbers game even as their Cord competitors took to road shows in the estates.
Mr Waititu, Mr Jimnah Mbaru and Mr Lee Muchiri, who have declared interest in the position of Nairobi governor on the TNA ticket, were invited to address the crowd of Jubilee supporters who thronged Uhuru Park.
Other TNA contenders for the seat are former Nairobi Town Clerk John Gakuo and the chairman of Nairobi Central Business District Association (NCBDA), Mr Timothy Muriuki.
The Senate battle pitting Mr Mbuvi against Ms Millicet Omanga and real estate businessman and Embakasi politician Njuiri Kimaru. his community’s support.
Nominated MP Rachel Shebesh, who wants to be the women’s representative, campaigned in Westlands accompanied by Mr Mbuvi. Her campaign materials were spotted in the city a few days ago.
Although Ms Shebesh is seen to be close to Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, the challenge mounted by Kasarani women leader Wanjiku Mwangi seemed to have sent a signal that the contest for the women representative ticket will not be a walk over for her. “My competitors should not fear. No one is getting a direct ticket,” the MP had said earlier.
Fireworks are also expected in Cord, where Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru and Mumias Sugar chief executive Evans Kidero are locked in a fierce battle.
The Wanjiru-Kidero war has escalated in recent days after the former was forced to defend her academic qualification for the job. The MP is a close ally of Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The ODM leadership is said to be divided over Bishop Wanjiru’s and Mr Kidero’s candidatures.
“We are not stopping in our bid. Our detractors should stop introducing side shows and face the people,” said Bishop Wanjiru on Saturday.
Wiper aspirant Mutinda Kavemba has complicated the arithmetic and could be prevailed to drop the bid and be running mate of the ODM candidate. The ODM-Wiper coalition deal provides for a running mate from either party.
Regional Development minister Fred Gumo and Kasarani MP Elizabeth Ongoro are also eyeing the ODM ticket to run for Nairobi Senator.
Ford People has already issued its ticket for the gubernatorial race to Mr Eric Mokua, a former senior manager at the Kenya Commercial Bank.
In Narok County, internal wrangling has gripped the coalitions with last-minute defections by some of the candidates fearing that the exercise will not be free and fair.
The William Ruto-led URP on Saturday suffered a setback after the gubernatorial seat aspirant, Mr Dalton Konchella, defected from the party citing differences with the county elections board.
Despite not announcing which party he has moved to Mr Konchella moved out with a parliamentary aspirant for Narok West Mr Peter Cheborge.
Cut-throat rivalry has emerged between TNA and APK parties in the Mt Kenya East region as the party led by Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi seeks to boost its bargaining chip after the March 4 elections.
In Uasin Gishu for instance the nominations have caused jitters and a majority of Senate aspirants eyeing senators and gubernatorial seats have rolled their sleeves for the tight contest.
URP that is the most popular party in the region and majority of candidates have identified themselves with the party and the race for nominations will be a cut throat affair.
However, there are fears that due to the huge number interested candidates many fear that the nominations exercise will be marred with irregularities.
In Kisumu, several aspirants have voiced fear that as long as some aspirants remain party officials, assurances by the party organs of a transparent process would be a mirage.
Senate aspirant Maxwel Otieno Odongo for instance accuses ODM secretary general Prof Anyang Nyong’o of using his position to intimidate his opponents.
“With him still as the party secretary general, I don’t see the nominations slated for Thursday this week being fair,” he said.
He is now asking the party leader, Prime Minister Raila Odinga to step in and have all aspirants still clinging to their party positions to resign immediately.
“The tenet of democracy dictates that you cannot purport to be a player while at the same time you are a referee. I know the party leader will hear our plea and intervene,” he said.
Gubernatorial aspirant Atieno Otieno says her biggest concern as she traverses the county is whether the process will be above board.
“We expect the party elections board will keep its word on the credibility of the process and do justice to all of us,” she said.
In Migori County, there is general unease among aspirants arising from an allegation that there is a list already drawn constituting those who will be given certificate or outcome titled in their favour.
The situation is no different in Kisii, Kakamega and Busia counties with parties which have the strongest following here being the worst affected.
Homa Bay County also has its fair share of issues as the entry of big wigs Mr Philip Okundi and Cyprian Awiti in the gubernatorial race has triggered counter-accusations and finger pointing among supporters.
Wiper nomination campaigns in Kitui, the home county of Party leader and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka have been intense because the party is the dominant political force in the region and whoever gets its ticket is almost assured of a win in the general elections.
The TNA wave in central Kenya has made for some acrimonious campaigning in parts of the region as big names fight for the ticket many see as the surest route to elective office.
Fears of fallout as big names fall by the wayside has grown given the resources they have invested in protracted campaigns.
The testy atmosphere surrounding the contest saw accusations between them after an exercise to select the nominees to the county elections board ended in acrimony and scuffles on November 24, 2012.
The board was however elected later without incident, but not before accusations of incitement flying between Mr Mathenge’s and Mr Wainaina’s supporters.
The governor contest in Kirinyaga has seen an interesting battle between Finance Minister Njeru Githae and Former director of administration in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr Joseph Ndathi, with each exuding confidence that he would best the other in the contest.
In Machakos and Makueni counties where Wiper is the favourite ticket, a number of aspirants fearing bias nominations during the January 17 party nominations  have secretly secured direct nominations from small political parties.
The Independent Party leader Mr Kalembe Ndile said he has already dished out direct nominations to some Wiper aspirants.
“We have dished out many tickets for those seeking to be governors, senators among others, the demand is high so we decided to lower the fee to accommodate the less fortunate ones,” Mr Ndile said.
In Makueni County Wiper secretary general Mr Mutula Kilonzo was yesterday preparing himself for a bruising battle with one of the party’s stalwart Mr Gideon Ndambuki for the Makueni senatorial seat.
Vice President Mr Musyoka tried to intervene to avoid a looming fall-out by asking Mr Kilonzo who is the minister for Education to bolt out of the race and seek election in Nairobi County. But Mr Kilonzo has rejected the appeal.
“I have already registered as a voter in the county, now why should I move out now to a county where I cannot even vote for myself? It doesn’t make sense,” he said.

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