Shirikisho endorses Kibaki’s re-election bid at a stormy delegates conference

Shirikisho Party of Kenya yesterday endorsed the re-election of President Kibaki following a stormy national delegates conference held in Mombasa.
The conference, that was attended by party leader Chirau Mwakwere, his deputy Morris Dzoro and other leaders from the region, formally passed a decision that had earlier been passed by the national executive council (NEC).

The party leaders, who also included secretary general Yusuff Abubakar, had a difficult time convincing delegates that it would benefit Shirikisho.
Sauda Loda, a delegate from Galole in Tana River, sought to know President Kibaki’s stand on majimbo, since the party supported a federal system of government.

The delegates wanted to be assured of the stakes the party will have in the alliance.
But the party leaders said they had set out conditions, which must be met in the coalition.
“We joined the Kibaki team because our efforts to get entry into ODM were thwarted by their insistence that the party must be dissolved. That could not happen because we need to have our own identity. “Shirikisho is not going into the union as an under dog, but as an equal partner and one of the conditions that must be met is that we be supported and allowed to field civic and parliamentary candidates,” party leader and minister for transport Mr Mwakwere said.
He said President Kibaki showed support for Shirikisho when he campaigned for their candidate, Mr Harry Kombe, in the Magarini by-election.

“This is a chance of a lifetime, to ensure that the region is in the next government and be able to claim a stake in the sharing of national resources,” he said.
Mr Abubakar claimed the majimbo issue, which was the party’s rallying call, was being used for propaganda by ODM. “We are challenging these other parties that have been saying that Kibaki is not for majimbo to show us their manifestos. If President Kibaki supported the Wako Draft during the constitution review, which propagated for a devolved government, how can one go ahead and say that the president did not support majimbo?” Mr Abubakar asked.

A parliamentary aspirant, Mr Fedinand Mwarandu, who opposed the endorsement to support President Kibaki’s re-election was thrown out of the venue when the party’s national vice chairman, Mr Safari Mumba, put the proposition before the delegates for approval.
While most delegates supported the move by to join the Party of National Unity (PNU), Mr Mwarandu shouted saying Shirikisho did not back Kibaki.

Youths beat him up and evicted him from the hall. Complaining about the harassment, Mr Mwarandu said the decision to back President Kibaki was being forced on members.
“I am an aspirant in Kaloleni constituency and as people on the ground we know what people are saying. They support Shirikisho, but they do not back president Kibaki’s re-election bid,” he said.
Know fate of the party

Mr Abubakar, however, said Mr Mwarandu was not a delegate and was only in the meeting as an observer.
“We have also come to learn that the man is an ODM candidate and was only in the meeting to cause chaos,” he said.
Earlier, a section of the delegates demanded to know the fate of the party after backing President Kibaki and expressed reservations that the matter was being rushed without proper consultation.

The delegates also endorsed the party’s manifesto and constitution, which have been reviewed to also allow a provision for party leader and deputy party leader.
Other leaders who spoke in support of the Kibaki re-election were assistant minister Joseph Kingi. He said Shirikisho would enable Coast residents to bargain on national issues.

Story by MAZERA NDURYA Publication Date: 9/30/2007

PNU unveils a committee to run Kibaki's campaigns

Written By:Carol Gakii , Posted: Wed, Sep 26, 2007

The Party of National Unity has unveiled a 29-member committee to run president Mwai Kibaki's national campaign.

The committee, which hits the campaign trail next week after the president officially launches his campaign, comprises members from the PNU affiliate parties.

The party leaders also announced that the party's symbol will be unveiled over the weekend.
Led by agriculture minister Kipruto Arap Kirwa the leaders also clarified that the party's abbreviation is PNU and not Panu as it has been referred in the past.

Addressing a press after a daylong meeting the party leaders dismissed claims the alliance was divided saying that the party will remain united so as to ensure the president recaptures his seat.

Kirwa also said the party's colours are blue Red and white.
He said the team would focus on president Kibaki's development record, which he said speaks for itself.

Members of the committee include vice president, Moody Awori, NARC-Kenya chairman, Raphael Tuju, his Ford people counterpart, Simeon Nyachae, KANU's Uhuru Kenyatta and Ford Kenya's Musikari Kombo as well as Shirikisho leader, Chirau Ali Mwakwere.

Kaya FM supports Kibaki re-election

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A radio station linked to President Kibaki’s re-election campaign has been established in Coast.
The FM radio station, Kaya FM, is based in Matuga constituency in Kwale District and has started test runs.

Confirming the existence of the radio station in his constituency on Friday, Transport minister Mr Chirau Ali Mwakwere described it as a ‘blessing’, saying it informs and educates the public.
The establishment of Kaya FM, brings to six the number of radio stations broadcasting at the Coast.

President Kibaki supports get backing

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Shirikisho Party Kenya national chairman, Mr Mashengu wa Mwachofi, has been told to back President Kibaki’s re-election campaigns or quit.
The party director of programmes, Sheikh Juma Ngao, tore into the party chairman, whom he accused of failing to work with party leaders, Mr Chirau Ali Mwakwere, and his deputy, Mr Morris Dzoro.

SPK is divided over its support for President Kibaki’s re-election, with a section of leaders led by Mwakwere strongly supporting the President for a second term.
Mwachofi has openly disagreed with other SPK leaders backing Kibaki, saying the matter has not been discussed conclusively.

"You have an option, stick with us and support Kibaki or pack and go," Ngao said.
Mwachofi is currently out of the country.

Ngao, who is also the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem) in Mombasa, accused Mwachofi of failing to market the party at the Coast and added that the inclusion of Mwakwere and Dzoro had made the party popular.

"We are fielding candidates in all the 21 constituencies in the province and have received several inquiries from aspirants from other regions seeking to stand on our party," he said.
Ngao defended the move to back Kibaki and said the party’s National Delegates Conference slated for October 6 would just rubberstamp the decision. "We have made our stand known and Kibaki is our man come sun, come rain," Ngao said.

Apart from Mwachofi holding different views, SPK Kwale branch, led by Mr Mohamed Khamis Mwasengesa, has denied that a decision was reached to support Kibaki.

"We never met and agreed on Kibaki. In fact, our supporters on the ground are telling us to back ODM’s Raila Odinga for the presidency since his aspirations for a majimbo system of governance are appealing," Mwasengesa said.

Kibaki party may break Shirikisho

By Ngumbao Kithi and Patrick Beja

Hon. Mwakwere

Controversy over support for President Kibaki’s candidature is threatening to split Shirikisho Party.
Emerging cracks continue to widen after three top Shirikisho officials trashed the party’s membership to the Party of National Unity (Panu).
National chairman, Mr Mwashengu wa Mwachofi, his deputy, Mr John Safari Mumba, and organising secretary, Mr Kassim Juma, said Shirikisho had not agreed on a deal to enter into the pro-Kibaki coalition.
They said negotiations were expected to start, but the Sunday announcement that the party was in Panu was premature since the National Executive Committee had not endorsed the decision.

Juma said Party Leader and Transport minister, Mr Chirau Ali Mwakwere, and his deputy and Tourism minister, Mr Morris Dzoro were pushing Shirikisho into a coalition before a deal was cut.

He said it would be difficult to claim a stake in Panu should Kibaki win.
On Sunday, the President announced that he would be seeking re-election on Panu, whose main partners are Democratic Party, Ford-Kenya, Ford-People and Narc-Kenya.
But it now appears the move to back Kibaki could deal a deathblow to the Coast-based party. Mwakwere has told those dissatisfied with the move to quit. He insisted that Shirikisho NEC unconditionally endorsed Kibaki as its presidential candidate long before Panu was launched.
"In any decision-making, it is normal for some people to oppose. Even Mr Raila Odinga could not win all the votes during his nomination as ODM presidential candidate. In fact, he failed to win the support of 1,000 delegates," Mwakwere argued.

The Matuga MP dismissed recent defections following the decision to back the President.
"We want to remain with those who are committed to the party. Those who want to go to other parties are free to do so," he said.
But on Tuesday, the party officials said the top decision-making organ must ratify such a decision.
"I wish to inform our members that Shirikisho is not a member of Panu as that decision has to be made by the national delegates conference expected on October 6," said Mwachofi.
Sources at the party said camps allied to Mwakwere and Mwachofi were lobbying delegates ahead of the conference.

The sources added that either of the opposing camps could face disciplinary action following the delegates’ stand.
The conference is also expected to approve the positions of Party Leader and his deputy, which were created for Mwakwere and Dzoro upon joining the party three months ago.
Others who joined Shirikisho then were Msambweni MP, Mr Abdalla Ngozi, and Assistant ministers, Mr Anania Mwaboza and Mr Joseph Kingi.

Mumba confirmed that a team was appointed to lead the talks with Panu, but no meeting took place. "None of these members was consulted. As far as the party is concerned, Shirikisho has not entered into any coalition with anybody," Mumba said.
He warned that the party could not be ignored since it has united the Coast region, which has for long been a fishing ground for political parties.

SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY HON. MWAI KIBAKI, C.G.H., M.P.,

President Kibaki (centre) in a show of unity with leaders of key parties in the Party of National Unity coalition. They are from left Shirikisho leader Ali Mwakwere (partly hidden) Ford-P leader Simeon Nyachae, Vice-President Moody Awori, Ford-K boss Musikari Kombo, Kanu chairman Uhuru Kenyatta and Narc Kenya chairman Raphael Tuju.
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PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA DURING THE INTER PARTIES COOPERATION ANNOUNCEMENT AT KENYATTA INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE, NAIROBI 16TH SEPTEMBER, 2007

Fellow Kenyans,

I want to begin by thanking you for the support you have given me over the last four and a half years. I am humbled by your overwhelming endorsement and support for me and my leadership.
I also want to thank my family; in particular my wife, the First Lady, Lucy and our children for their love and encouragement. I thank the Almighty God for his guidance and for enabling me to serve you.

Fellow Kenyans,

As a country, we are grateful to God for supporting us during some of our most difficult and sometimes tragic times. We still remember with weary hearts the loss of Vice President Kijana Wamalwa and Cabinet Ministers Geoffrey Parpai, Mohammed Khalif and Karisa Maitha.
We also remember the leaders who left us as a result of the Marsabit air crash and many other Kenyans. We feel their absence, especially at this moment. I am very grateful to be accompanied by leaders of political parties that are represented here.
I thank them most sincerely for their support and for joining hands with me and fellow Kenyans as we continue to develop our beautiful country in an environment of peace, stability, unity and progress for all Kenyans.
Today, I am pleased to announce that I will be running for a second and final term as your President.

I will, therefore, be seeking the support of all of you Kenyans so as to continue making our country an even better and greater home for all of us. KAZI IENDELEE.
I am asking for your support because despite the many challenges that have faced us in the last few years, the spirit that makes us Kenyans and our dedication to success has resulted in many achievements for all Wananchi.
For example:

1. Millions of children who would otherwise be out of school have a hope in life due to the Free Primary Education Programme.

2. Women who used to walk for kilometers in search of water now have access to clean tap water. NA KAZI INAENDELEA.

3. Farmers who had given up on farming now have access to markets and enjoy good prices for their produce.

4. Rural communities who had never seen electricity since independence now have lights. NA KAZI INAENDELEA.

5. Hospital cabinets which were empty are now stocked with medicines and an additional 1,000 health centres have been built to bring healthcare closer to Kenyans.

6. We have empowered our communities in every part of Kenya through the CDF programme.

7. Thousands of Kenyans who have lived as squatters since independence have now been empowered through issuance of title deeds. NA KAZI INAENDELEA.

8. More than 4,000 kilometres of roads have been constructed and rehabilitation of our transport network means better movement of all Kenyans.

We have been able to achieve all these because of the support of all Kenyans and focused leadership that placed the needs of Wananchi first. Leadership is about delivery of development, the improvement of the lives of all Kenyans.
Leadership is NOT about vindictiveness and empty politics. It is also NOT about empty propaganda and tribal politics.

Fellow Kenyans,

I am saddened by the fact that some politicians are polarizing the country along tribal lines. These politicians do not want to focus on the real issues that affect Wananchi. That is not the direction we want to see Kenya going.

As a patriot and as your leader, I will continue to dedicate myself to the ideal of national unity.
The foundation of my leadership is guided by the words of our national anthem: JUSTICE BE OUR SHIELD AND DEFENDER, MAY WE DWELL IN UNITY, PEACE AND LIBERTY.

Having considered the issues and challenges that face the future of our Nation, we have decided to form an Alliance of Political Parties who believe that we should give highest priority to the welfare of individual Kenyans, peace unity and development of our country.

• An Alliance of Parties that represent the desires of the people of Kenya.
  
• An Alliance that says we want a Kenya that is JUST. A Kenya where it does not matter where you were born or where you live because you are a Kenyan and should be Proud to be a Kenyan.
  
• An Alliance that gives hope for the future. That says, it does not matter whether you were born rich or poor, you can go to school and get an opportunity to change your life.
• 
  An Alliance that stands for accountability and good governance of public resources.
• 
  An Alliance that says that yes, we have made major economic and social strides but there is still a lot of work that remains to be done.
• 
  An Alliance that is committed to continuously reduce the levels of poverty and ensure every Kenyan has access to food, shelter, health and education.

An Alliance that says every Kenyan, Man and Woman, Young and Old, DESERVES to live in a stable and united country.

My Fellow Kenyans,

In order to safeguard the gains we have achieved to date and to attain the objectives and ideals we have spelt out, I have decided that I will seek re-election as President of the Republic of Kenya under an Alliance that we have named THE PARTY OF NATIONAL UNITY.

The members of this alliance shall include KANU, FORD KENYA, FORD PEOPLE, NARC-KENYA and SHIRIKISHO, among others. I would like to emphasize that each party will retain its identity and we will work together as an alliance of distinct parties. We also invite other parties who hold similar objectives to join hands with us.

From today, a co-ordinating group of the Alliance will prepare for the formal launch of my Presidential Campaign on September 29.

Fellow Kenyans,

Four and a half years ago, you entrusted the leadership of our country to me. I thank you for giving me this opportunity because together we are transforming Kenya. Things have become better but we are far from where want to be.

That is why I am requesting you to give me and our Alliance an opportunity to continue building our nation. KAZI IENDELEE.

GOD BLESS YOU
GOD BLESS KENYA

I will vie on Party of National Unity, says Kibaki

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President Mwai Kibaki has named the Party of National Unity as his campaign vehicle in his quest for a second term in office.
In a live address to the nation from the Kenya International Conference Centre ( KICC), the President named parties: Kanu, Narc Kenya, Ford Kenya, Ford People and Shirikisho among others as those that he will work with in the run-up to the Genearal Elections later this year. These parties also form the constituent parties of the Party of National Unity, which is an alliance of parties.

He thanked God, his family and Kenyans for their support for the past four-and-a- half years he has been in power especially for the tragic and difficult times his rule has endured- the deaths of Vice President Kijana Wamalwa, Cabinet ministers Geoffrey Parpai , Mohammed Khalif and Karisa Maitha and Members of Parliament.

In his speech the President enumerated the achievements of his regime such as the Free Primary Education, Constituency Development Fund, rural electrification, issuance of title deeds to squatters, fair prices for farmers' produce and construction of over 4,000 km of roads.These achievements have been made possible by what the President termed as "focused leadership aimed at delivery of development" as opposed to "empty and vindictive politics."

The President said that he was saddened by the politics of his political rivals, which were polarising Kenyans along tribal lines and which are a bad direction to national politics.As a patriot and leader, President Kibaki has seen it fit to unite Kenyans under the umbrella National Party of Unity and hence his decision to run for re-election under its banner.
The president also announced September 29, 2007, as the date when his re-election campaign will kick off countrywide.
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By ANTHONY MACHARIALast updated: Sun,
September 16, 2007 16:56 PM

Be patient with RVR, Mwakwere tells House

Bunge

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The Government has defended the performance of the Rift Valley Railways (RVR) — the firm that won the railway service concession.
At the same time, Kenyans will have to wait a little longer for a free port area.
Transport minister, Mr Chirau Mwakwere, told Parliament that it was "too early to judge the company’s performance". He also defended the tendering for the concession, saying RVR emerged the winner out of nine bidders.
Last week, MPs claimed the firm, which took over from Kenya Railways Corporation in running the railway business, was underperforming and asked the Government to cancel the deal.
MPs claimed railway services had continued to deteriorate despite the restructuring programme and questioned the tender. Through the concession, RVR will run the railway services for 25 years.

According to the contract, Mwakwere said evaluation of the concessionaire’s performance, starts after two years.

The nature of the industry required adequate time to put in place reforms due to delays in delivery of spare parts, added the minister.

Source:

The Standard

Coast residents stuck with swing vote

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The war for the Coast Province vote in the General Election has intensified with the major political blocs positioning themselves for a share of the cake.

With no politician of note in the province contesting the presidency, contestants think the region could provide the important swing vote.
This explains why all the presidential contenders have visited the Coast.

A few weeks ago, a group calling itself the Muslim Leaders Forum met in Mombasa and announced that the Muslims will support ODM flagbearer Raila Odinga. This elicited an immediate response from President Kibaki's side with Narc Kenya chairman Raphael Tuju holding talks with another set of Muslim leaders in Mombasa last week to win their support.
Led by Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya Secretary-general Sheikh Mohamed Dor, the first group said they had decided to back Mr Odinga because he roots for the federal system of government and had pledged to address problems facing the Muslim community.

A section of Muslim leaders have accused the Government of harassing members of their community through indiscriminate arrests and deportation.
But a faction seen to be behind Supkem Coast region chairman Sheikh Juma Ngao said they will support President Kibaki for another term.
The other group expected to chart the path for the Coast voter is the Shirikisho Party which has its roots in the region.

However, the decision on who the group will support had divided it down the middle.
It all started two months ago when a number of Coast MPs, including two Cabinet ministers, joined the party and took over its leadership.
The move by Transport minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere and his Tourism and Wildlife counterpart, Mr Morris Dzoro, immediately transformed Shirikisho from a fringe party to a big player in national politics.

Executive council

But the going has been less than smooth for the Mwakwere team since a National Executive Council meeting announced that the party will back President Kibaki.
The party’s founder members differ with the Mwakwere group on two issues.
First, they reckon that Mr Mwakwere position of part leader and that of his deputy, Mr Dzoro, do not exist in the Shirikisho constitution. Due to this, the founders argue that the two have no mandate to chair party meetings.
Secondly, Shirikisho’s key campaign plank is the push for majimbo yet the Kibaki team is opposed to it.

This fact was reinforced during last weekend’s Narc Kenya rally in Mombasa when speakers poured cold water on the majimbo idea, claiming it will balkanise the country into tribal blocs.
Some Shirikisho members say the party should work with Mr Odinga’s Orange which has declared that it will push for implementation of the Bomas Draft constitution which advocates devolution of power to regions.

But the takeover has brought the once moribund party into the national limelight. Mr Mwakwere and Mr Dzoro joined the party together with assistant ministers Joseph Kingi, Anania Mwaboza and MP Abdalla Ngozi.
Before their defection from Narc-Kenya, Mr Harrison Kombe was the only MP allied to Shirikisho.

For a party that had been shunned, its transformation could easily be seen in the manner other Coastal leaders like Mvita MP Najib Balala reacted.
After the break up of ODM Kenya, Mr Balala approached Shirikisho secretary- general Yusuf Abubakar for an alliance with the Odinga group.
However, the party spelt out conditions under which it can build any alliance.
First, said their would-be partners must agree to let the party singly field candidates for the 21 parliamentary seats in the province.

And if the alliance forms government, the Coastal party should be given key positions such as that of premier proposed in the Bomas Draft.
The tension was heightened when its national director of programmes, Sheikh Ngao, announced that they will back the President. He said the decision was agreed at a National Executive Council meeting held in August.

Back president

“We resolved as NEC to back President Kibaki because of his development record and we are certain that the issues that Shirikisho has been fighting for would be articulated by his government,” said Sheikh Ngao.
But Shirikisho founder member Mwakio Ndau who is now firmly on ODM advised the party against abandoning the majimbo agenda.
“When they brought in Mr Mwakwere and his team in an arrangement that is not in the party structure, we kept quiet but this time round, it is not acceptable for the officials to support President Kibaki who was openly opposed to the federal system of government,” he said.
Party national chairman Mwashengu wa Mwachofi says they had not declared support for any presidential candidate.

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Story by MAZERA NDURYA

Publication Date: 9/13/2007

Kibaki reaches out to Muslims

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Boniface Ongeri and Ibrahim Mohammed
President Kibaki landed in North Eastern Province for the third time in his term and upped his campaign with a conciliatory message for Muslims.
The President directed that a Muslim cleric deported recently over terrorism claims be allowed back for "negotiations with the Government".
"The Government is not out to oppress anyone who wants to propagate religion. Let the cleric come back and we will negotiate," he said.
In his speech, he sought to dispel fears that his regime was oppressive to Muslims.
He was reacting to demands by Muslim leaders who had expressed concern that the Government was oppressing Muslims over terrorist allegations.
In Garissa, the President commissioned the construction of the first 20km of the more than 1,200 km Garissa-Wajir-Mandera Road.
The road is constructed with grants from Saudi Arabia.
Accompanying the President were Cabinet ministers Mr John Michuki, Mr Mohamud Abdi, Mr Morris Dzoro, Mr Chirau Ali Mwakwere and Mr John Munyes.
The Head of State also commissioned the Garissa Urban Water Supply before officially opening the North Eastern Province ASK Show.
He asked residents to take farming seriously, saying the Government would invest Sh4.2 billion on livestock and agricultural extension services.
As conditions for re-electing Kibaki, the leaders raised concerns over the closure of the Somalia border since last December.
They said this had denied residents business opportunities.
The President is today expected to officially open the Wajir Airport.
He said 390 boreholes had been sunk in the province at a cost of Sh350 million in the last three years.
While opening the show, Kibaki said though the province was often associated with aridity, it had enormous potential for commercial livestock production and agro-processing.
This could be possible through substantial irrigation along the Tana and Daua Rivers for food crops, Kibaki said.

Published on September 7, 2007, 12:00 am

Eating chiefs are angling for the one tiny carrot

By Okech Kendo

A dilemma does not capture the complex survival equation President Kibaki is being invited to resolve.
A dilemma poses two or more compelling choices, each with unsavoury implications. The question is whether Kibaki and his advisers are concerned with votes for the December 17 General Election or succession.

Each should be as compelling as the other. The President has to win first for his handlers to imagine talking about the Kibaki succession. But to win, the President needs votes and a network of vote getters. He needs to understand that winning is not as easy as co-opting opportunistic politicians into a Government of National Unity.
The incumbent badly needs votes, and with it come demands around a tiny carrot.
There are eating chiefs angling to support Kibaki but on their own terms. Some are calling on him by night to conspire about the size of the carrot they want. Some are scheming around this one tiny carrot.

Coast Province wants the carrot. Eastern wants it. Western wants it. Nairobi wants it. Nyanza wants it. Rift Valley wants it. Some MPs from the Rift Valley have even identified a mouth for it.
Let us begin with Rift Valley, or at least a section of it, that has always been friendly to the Government. A faction of Rift Valley MPs have asked Kibaki to dangle this carrot to the Kalenjin through Agriculture minister Mr Kipruto arap Kirwa to trap the Rift Valley vote.
The province has about three million votes, which they promise Kibaki if he takes the Minister for Agriculture as his running mate. They demand this not because Kirwa is greedy for power, but because Rift Valley is so crucial to Kibaki its ‘patrons’ cannot just give it away.

The largest voting block wants to sell its support. If Kibaki does not appoint Kirwa VP, then it will not support him. They want a compelling bait to restrain Eldoret North MP Mr William Ruto, the prime minister-designate in an Orange Democratic Movement government.
Appetite for the job too strong
There are also other provinces eyeing the carrot, with even stronger appetite. Western Province horse traders want the carrot, even though they have Vice-President Mr Moody Awori. Awori is a Luhya VP, but Ford-Kenya MPs say Awori is an outsider. This job, they say, would have been given to a Ford-Kenya MP when Vice-President Kijana Wamalwa died in 2003.

They want it for Mr Musikari Kombo, the Ford-Kenya chairman, with accomplished horse-trading skills. Dr Mukhisa Kituyi also badly needs the job to energise the Kibaki campaign. As the Narc-Kenya secretary-general, Kituyi’s appetite for the job has never been stronger.
But giving the job to Kombo will alienate Awori and Kituyi. Giving it to Kituyi would also complicate the Kibaki succession for Prof George Saitoti, Ms Martha Karua and Mr Kiraitu Murungi who have declared interest in the job in 2012.

These courtiers would be happier with Awori. Awori has no ambition to succeed Kibaki, but even if he did he is time-barred. The hitch is that with Awori and Kibaki at the top, there would be no continuity, for the party Kibaki picks.

Then comes Eastern Province, where the Kibaki team needs a strategy to deny ODM-Kenya candidate Kalonzo Musyoka some Kamba vote. But this is a tall order because Kalonzo has said he wants the Kamba in Government. Those who believe he could take them there could just drive him all the way. Charity Ngilu, who owns Narc, is not an option because she is unpredictable.
What of Kalonzo as Kibaki’s running mate? Sounds workable, but Kituyi, Kombo, Saitoti, Karua and Kiraitu are unlikely to accept this. Coast, through Shirikisho, wants Mr Ali Mwakwere as vice-president to support Kibaki’s re-election.

Ford-People MPs have helped Kibaki survive the Narc crumble and are unlikely to demand less. The President’s re-election needs Mr Simeon Nyachae now as much as the regime needed his help to survive. There must be bait for the Kisii vote. Nyachae for vice-president is not far-fetched. He is the senior most member of the Government of National Unity (GNU) and a 2002 presidential candidate.

GNU was good for survival; now Kibaki needs a winning strategy. If it were possible, eight ‘regional vice-presidents’ could do.
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The writer is The Standard Managing Editor,
Quality and Production
kendo@eastandard.net

Top guns pick allies

By Standard Team
President Kibaki and his rivals Mr Raila Odinga and Mr Kalonzo Musyoka are spreading their campaign tentacles with allies in safe and difficult regions.

The campaign teams consist of seasoned politicians, technocrats and rich business people who are bank-rolling the brigades.
The outfits are working through secretariats, lobby groups, political parties and in some instances fairly amorphous groups.
There are also individuals, who prefer to remain behind the scenes. Raila’s team, now enjoying the backing of the ODM machinery after his nomination, has university lecturers, business people and researchers.

The Lang’ata MP’s campaign, which was being co-ordinated from the Raila secretariat in Nairobi’s Upper Hill area, will now also have Orange House as another outlet.
Meanwhile, the Kibaki campaign is nerve-centred at the Kibaki Foundation, headed by daughter Judy Kibaki. Backing the team are rich business, technocrats, volunteers and professionals.
On Wednesday, individuals close to the Kibaki and Raila camps left no doubt that the country could be bracing for the fiercest elections of recent times.

Co-operative Development minister Mr Njeru Ndwiga and ODM presidential running mate Mr Musalia Mudavadi hinted at the awesome arsenal waiting to be unleashed.
"We will mobilise people to vote for ODM," declared Mudavadi…We are the generals of the Pentagon and you voters are the foot soldiers. Please go out and vote and drive the enemy with your voter’s cards."

Ndwiga captured the essence of the battle ahead: "We are moving to all corners of the country. You have never witnessed campaigns like you are waiting to see".
Formidable team
ODM Secretary-General Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o said the party had a countrywide network up to the village. "We cannot reveal our network links because our rivals would viciously move in to nip it in the bud".

Mr Clarkson Otieno Karan, an MP at the East African Legislative Assembly who is backing Kibaki in Nyanza, said: "I will campaign to ensure President Kibaki returns to State House. He has done a commendable job. We should not fear that Nyanza is an ODM zone because many people are happy with the performance of the President so far."
Exuding confidence, Information minister Mr Mutahi Kagwe, noted: "As far as we are concerned, we are ahead of the competition, they are not a threat."

Mvita MP Mr Najib Balala, who together with Mudavadi, Mr William Ruto (Eldoret North) and Mr Joseph Nyagah (Gachoka) are members of the ODM ‘Pentagon’, stated: "We are putting together a formidable team, which will spearhead the campaign for our presidential candidate Raila. This team has everything required to win."
Nyagah was also upbeat: "I know the area where I am campaigning is considered tough for ODM. But I will be surging ahead and you will see the team getting votes in Eastern and Central provinces".

Personalities working behind the scenes are concerned with fundraising for the candidates, while the lobby groups are intent on reaching every ward.
Rich business people backing the candidates have loosened their campaign purse strings, as was evident last weekend when a group backing Kibaki raised over Sh3 million in a breakfast sitting at a Nairobi hotel.

Current and former MPs/Cabinet ministers, some who are not even vying for seats, have plunged into the campaign teams.

Kibaki campaign pointmen are not only positioned in Central and Nairobi provinces — which are easy hunting grounds for him — they are also deep in Nyanza, considered a Raila stronghold.
Raila’s network, also with solid support in Nairobi and western Kenya, has planted teams right in the heart of Central Province.

The teams per province

In Nairobi, Kibaki’s campaign will be powered by mainly MPs. Mr Maina Kamanda of Starehe is poised to play a big role, as is Mrs Beth Mugo of Dagoretti, Mr Norman Nyagah of Kamukunji, Mr David Mwenje of Embakasi and nominated MP Ms Betty Tett.
Makadara MP Mr Reuben Ndolo, Westlands MP Mr Fred Gumo, Kasarani MP Mr William Omondi and a coterie of behind-the-scenes pointmen, a number of them in Government and the private sector, back Raila, whose base is Lang’ata, a Nairobi Constituency.

In the Rift Valley, Kibaki relies on what started like backing from unlikely quarters, with former President Moi and Nicholas Biwott in his stable.
Minister Kipruto arap Kirwa is seen as the face of the Kibaki campaign in the region, as is Prof George Saitoti.

Raila is counting on Rift Valley heavyweights among them compatriot Ruto, Mr Henry Kosgey, Mr Kipkalia Kones and Mr William Ntimama.

In the Coast, Raila appears to be riding on the goodwill cemented by Balala, who endorsed him last Saturday. Also in the bag are former Malindi mayor Mr Gideon Mungaro, former MPs Ms Marere Mwachai and Mr Simeon Mkalla.

Ministers Mr Chirau Ali Mwakwere, Mr Morris Dzoro and Mr Danson Mungatana are flying Kibaki’s flagship at the Coast.

Western has Mudavadi and Mr Chris Okemo for Raila, while Kibaki’s bid will hinge around Minister Mr Musikari Kombo and Dr Mukhisa Kituyi in a region that rarely votes as a block.
In North Eastern, one of Raila’s key men is Mr Farah Maalim, while Kibaki can rely on Mr Maalim Mohammed.

In Nyanza, Kibaki will rely on Foreign Affairs minister Mr Raphael Tuju, while Mr Simeon Nyachae and his Ford-People hopes to bag Kisii votes for Kibaki.
MP Omingo Magara is expected to counter the Nyachae onslaught for ODM.
Central and parts of Eastern are to Kibaki what Nyanza is to Raila.

Kibaki’s key man Kagwe will be backed by Cabinet ministers and MPs Ndwiga, Mr Kiraitu Murungi, Mr David Mwiraria, Ms Martha Karua, Mr Amos Kimunya and Dr Chris Murungaru.
Raila’s forces in the Mt Kenya region include Nyagah, former Thika Mayor Mumbi Ngaru. Former Attorney-General Charles Njonjo is expected to back the campaign.
In Eastern-Ukambani, Kibaki’s allies are led by ministers Mr Joseph Munyao, Mr Mutua Katuku and Prof Kivutha Kibwana.

Also in the band are assistant ministers Mr Kalembe Ndile, Ms Adelina Mwau and Mr Kyalo Kaindi.

Raila’s team in Ukambani comprises mainly of parliamentary aspirants, who include Mr John Kiema, Titus Kaloki and Machakos Municipal deputy Mayor John Kithu, among others.

Shirikisho to back Kibaki for presidency

President Kibaki

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Published on September 4, 2007, 12:00 am
By Ngumbao Kithi

Shirikisho Party of Kenya (SPK) has relaxed its terms for co-operation with other political parties.
The party has also announced it will campaign for the re-election of President Kibaki.
Transport minister and party leader, Mr Chirau Ali Mwakwere, said SPK would show gratitude to the President for his weeklong tour — during which he showered goodies at the Coast — by campaigning for his re-election.

Said he: "We are interested in the re-election of Kibaki for a final five-year term. Cooperation with other political parties is not on our agenda yet."
The party two weeks ago differed with ODM when it demanded the slot of Vice President as a condition for entering a pact.
The other condition was that ODM should not field civic and parliamentary candidates in the region.
Mvita MP, Mr Najib Balala, who at the weekend stepped down in favour of Lang’ata MP, Mr Raila Odinga, for the ODM presidential ticket, described the demands as "unrealistic and unacceptable".

Speaking at the Palm Tree Hotel, during a press conference attended by deputy party leader, Mr Morris Dzoro and Kisauni MP, Mr Anania Mwaboza, Mwakwere said no agreement had been reached on which political party SPK would work with.
"We are not going to work with political parties that give conditions to us, it is us to give conditions to political partiers that want to work with us," he said.
The decision to back Kibaki was reached by top SPK officials after an overnight meeting at a North Coast hotel.

Secretary general, Mr Yusuf Abubakar, confirmed the party had agreed to campaign for Kibaki.
Vice chairman, Mr John Mumba, said it was still their wish that any party interested in working with its leaders sets aside the VP slot for SPK.

Mwaboza distanced the party from claims that it was tribal, saying: "Shirikisho does not stand for such things. We want resources of the region to benefit the local people first and others later.

Shirikisho party to back Kibaki for second term

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President Kibaki’s tour of Coast Province has started to bear fruits after Shirikisho party officials said they would back his re-election campaign.
But they gave one condition. That should he be re-elected, the President will pick his principal deputy from Coast Province.

The party’s announcement did not come a surprise to political observers in the region. Its officials made the revelation weeks after they held talks with several other parties including ODM, ODM-Kenya and Narc over the possibility of cooperation.

Transport minister Chirau Mwakwere — also the Shirikisho party leader — told a press conference in Mombasa yesterday that the party’s National Executive Committee and branch leaders from all the districts at the Coast had reached consensus to back the President. The decision was based on the President’s development record in the province, the Matuga MP said.
During the just ended week-long tour of the province, President Kibaki announced the establishment of Pwani University, the creation of Taveta District and the revival of the collapsed Ramisi Sugar Factory among others.

Mr Mwakwere said his party was rooting for a federal system of government (Majimbo) to ensure equitable distribution of resources in all regions.
Appreciate development
“We are glad to announce that SPK has resolved to back President Kibaki for a second term. This is because local leaders and residents at large appreciate the development the Government has injected in the region,” he said.
He also said that their support for the President was of their volition as the Head of State had not approached them for backing.

Mvita MP Najib Balala said he was not surprised that the party had decided to support the President.
Said the MP who was stepped down in the race for the ODM presidential ticket on Saturday: “It was obvious that they would back President Kibaki ... they are desperate to raise their profile and also get money for campaigning. Their move is not based on ideology because the SPK is for devolved government while Kibaki is for central government.”
According to him, SPK “no longer represents the wishes and aspirations of the Coast people” and the vacuum it had left would be filled by ODM, which stands for a devolved system of Government.

Mr Balala said that when he met SPK officials recently, they had tabled “impossible” conditions. One was that all the 21 parliamentary seats in the province be contested by SPK candidates only.
On their demand for the VP’s position if Kibaki wins the elections, Mr Balala said that would not happen. “They should forget the VP’s position... it is impossible ... money they will get but not that seat,” he said on telephone.

With SPK’s position now clear, the main battle for the Coast votes is set to be between the party on which President Kibaki will seek re-election on the one hand and ODM on the other. ODM nominated Lang’ata MP Raila Odinga as its presidential candidate on Saturday.
Mr Mwakwere noted that whereas other former presidents failed to establish a university to the Coast, President Kibaki delivered that among other development issues.

Deserves another term

“Leaders and residents feel that President Kibaki deserves another term because he has implemented a lot of projects for the benefit of locals than any other leader. We want him therefore to retain his seat,” Mr Mwakwere said.
“SPK leaders and residents will throw their weight behind the President for a second term. We call on him to give us the V-P post if all goes well in the polls,” he said.
SPK plans to field parliamentary and civic candidates in all the 21 constituencies in the province.
Party secretary-general Abubakar Yusuf said the party had not had any pact with any other party.
Transport minister Morris Dzoro, who is also the party’s deputy leader, said SPK was not a tribal party as alleged by its critics. And assistant minister Anania Mwaboza said the party aims at capturing seats not only in the region but in other parts of the country as well.
Sheikh Ngao said the party stood for majimbo to enable the region control a big portion of the revenue gathered from the area.

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DAILY NATION

Story by MATHIAS RINGA and EDMUND KWENA

Publication Date: 9/4/2007