Hive of activity as parties prepare to endorse Raila
It will be a major decision week for political parties under the Azimio la Umoja movement as they convene in Nairobi from Thursday to ratify decisions that will see them endorse ODM leader Raila Odinga for the presidency.
In a dramatic turn of events, President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party is on Friday expected to throw its weight behind the opposition chief whom it competed against in the 2017 elections.
Opening the series of significant political events will be retired President Mwai Kibaki’s Party of National Unity (PNU) which is set to hold a National Delegates Conference on Thursday to ratify a resolution to join Azimio.
The party is currently headed by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya.
Jubilee will hold its NDC on Friday at Nairobi’s Kenyatta International Conference Centre while Raila’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) will convene its National Governing Council meeting at Cooperative College in Karen. It is widely expected that Raila will grace the Jubilee NDC.
ODM supporters will on Saturday hold their NDC at Kasarani Stadium ahead of their joint rally with Jubilee in Nairobi’s Kamukunji grounds on Sunday during which Raila is expected to be crowned the Azimio coalition presidential candidate.
The Raila Odinga Presidential Campaign board chair Ndiritu Muriithi yesterday told People Daily that the Sunday rally would be the launch of the Azimio la Umoja movement coalition.
“This will be a big event. This will be the launch of Azimio after the NDCs. I would expect all the frontline leaders under the Azimio la Umoja to attend,” said Murithi.
ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna said the rally will be the culmination of the Azimio covenant.
“We have planned for a rally in Nairobi after the two NDCs on Friday and Saturday. We shall share the details later on the location of the rally,” said Sifuna.
He further said delegates from the two parties would attend the rally.
The formal building of the Azimio coalition started last week with Narc leader and Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu and her Makueni counterpart and Muungano Party leader Kivutha Kibwana declaring that their parties will not field presidential candidates in the August 9 elections.
During their joint NDC attended by Raila, the two stated that Narc and Muungano parties will be under the Azimio la Umoja coalition and support Raila’s presidency.
They also indicated that they would be teaming up with other like-minded parties to form a formidable force, adding that while their outfits had the opportunity to endorse their leaders as presidential candidates, they had opted to join Azimio to boost their chances of winning.
Thorough vetting
Yesterday, ODM chairman John Mbadi said this year’s NDC will be like no other.
Mbadi disclosed that the party had invited President Uhuru Kenyatta in his capacity as the Jubilee Party leader alongside other local and international dignitaries.
“This year’s ODM NDC will be unique because we expect to have guests who have never joined us in such an event. We have invited the President in his capacity as the party leader for Jubilee. We hope and expect him to attend,” said Mbadi.
The official said that only those who are supposed to attend would be welcome at the NDC, adding that all delegates will first assemble at a location to be communicated later before they are thoroughly vetted before being transported to Kasarani.
“We will first have the delegates somewhere where we will vet them before they are taken to Kasarani. We will ensure that only those who are supposed to attend are in the meeting,” he said.
He went on: “We want to plead with our supporters wherever they are that this is an NDC where only delegates attend, it’s not for all members.”
Confirming that the convention will be held at the Kasarani Indoor Gymnasium, Mbadi urged the rest of the membership and supporters to follow the proceedings on television and online platforms.
“The National Delegates Convention is not a public rally but a legal and constitutional meeting where only delegates meet to make important decisions for the party and on behalf of the rest of the party membership. Only accredited delegates, observers, and media personnel will be allowed into the venues of both meetings,” he said.
PNU has issued a notice of a Special NDC on Thursday.
A notice to PNU delegates signed by secretary-general John Okemwa and chairman David Kamau, says a special NDC will convene on February 24 at the Bomas of Kenya.
“Agenda of the meeting shall be to discuss and ratify coalition building and the party’s working relationship with other like-minded outfits and related matters,” reads the notice.
Likewise, Jubilee secretary general Raphael Tuju had issued a notice convening the NDC that will be held at KICC in Nairobi at which the agenda shall be to review, formulate and/or approve all policies of the party and to consider a proposed seal, symbol and flag of the party.
Kalonzo stand
The ruling party is largely divided with numerous “defections” including that of its deputy party leader William Ruto who fell out with his boss and formed the United Democratic Alliance through which he wants to make his first stab at the presidency in August General Election.
Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K), which is associated with Defense Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, is one of the parties that are backing Raila’s presidential candidature.
It will be interesting to see whether members of the One Kenya Alliance led by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Kanu chairman Gideon Moi, who has been under pressure to join Azimio, will play any significant role if any.
There is been talk that Kalonzo was keen to join Azimio but after striking a deal with the Jubilee Party.
Leaders, most of them who have declared that they will seek re-election on a Jubilee ticket, have for the last two weeks been holding organised constituency meetings in support for the party, with reports indicating pro-Uhuru wing has embarked on overdrive to poach aspirants with perceived influence in their respective electoral areas.
