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.