The late George Satoiti/File
National Treasurer Mohammed Mahmud who read the resolution after the meeting said the committee considered Konchellah’s personality and experience in public affairs.
“The committee also recommended the removal of forestry Minister Noah Wekesa as the party’s vice chairman following his failure to attend party meetings three years in a row,” he said.
The party’s National Executive Council (NEC} is to meet in the next ten 10 days to ratify the decision and there after the National Delegates Conference (NDC) will give the final decision.
“The management committee only has a role to endorse and we have done it. We have recommended Konchella to act as both chairman and as the first Vice chairman because Wekesa has not attended a meeting in three years yet he is the vice chairman in charge of operations,” said Mahmud.
“Kenyan politics is about regions and ethnicity and we chose Konchella for continuity as we think that he is capable of filling Saitoti’s shoes,” he added.
Saitoti who was the Internal Security Minister died in a helicopter crash three weeks ago alongside his Assistant Orwa Ojode and four other officers.
Konchella said that the party’s delegates will make a decision if the party will front a presidential candidate and that all those who wish to vie on a PNU ticket will be vetted by the party.
“We must have people who are non conformational and who will unite the people. We have not as yet decided on who will be our presidential candidate but we will leave it to the delegates. The chairman’s role is to unite the party,” said Konchella who is a former Immigration minister.
PNU Organizing Secretary Maina Kamanda disclosed that Saitoti had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Deputy Prime minister Uhuru Kenyatta ahead of the forthcoming elections.
“The party will work with the two signatories of the deal. If any of our members shows interest in the presidency we will support him even as we work with other like minded parties. We however are sure to front candidates for other positions,” said Kamanda.
PNU Secretary General Amos Kimunya did not attend the meeting as he is said to have disagreed with the committee’s choice of chairman.
Kimunya is said to have preferred Jimmy Angwenyi formerly the MP for Kitutu Chache to take over as chairman of the party.
PNU on which the late Saitoti was to vie for the presidency was formed as a political coalition of parties in 2007 and successfully sponsored the re-election of President Mwai Kibaki.
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