NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 19 – Party of National Unity (PNU) delegates from across the country have converged at Kasarani Sports Center to elect the party’s top leadership.
The delegates who started arriving in Nairobi on Thursday are to elect 29 officials as the party rushes to comply with the December 31 Political Parties Act deadline.
Consultations have been in top gear ahead of the National Delegates Conference with various candidates stepping down in favor of others so as to avoid any fallout. There are claims that a list of preferred officials has be drawn up and delegates are to endorse it.
Delegates are expected to confirm President Mwai Kibaki and Internal Security Minister George Saitoti as party leader and chairman respectively.
Forestry and Wildlife Minister Noah Wekesa was pressured to step down in favor of Prof Saitoti and has been rewarded with the position of first vice-chairman.
Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi is set to battle it out with Party Spokesman George Nyamweya for the Secretary General’s position.
PNU’s conference follows one by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) on Thursday that saw Prime Minister Raila Odinga endorsed as Party leader.
At least 4,200 ODM delegates from the 210 constituencies converged at the Bomas of Kenya and approved the creation of two positions of deputy leader to diffuse the tension between Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi and Agriculture Minister William Ruto.
They retained Cabinet Minister Henry Kosgey as the national chairman, Anyang’ Nyong’o as Secretary General and Assistant Minister Omingo Magara as the national treasurer.
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