NAIROBI, July 16 – Narc Kenya on Wednesday turned its back on President Mwai Kibaki’s appeal to strengthen the Party of National Unity (PNU) and reiterated its earlier stand that it will not dissolve.
In an open letter to the PNU Coordinating Chairman Noah Wekesa, Narc Kenya Party leader Martha Karua stated that they were strengthening their grassroots network ahead of the 2012 General Election.
The party, she said, would not be sending any representative to the proposed 15-member committee mandated to work on the implementation of the Political Parties Act.
“As stated by our Chair and Secretary General in the meeting we wish to grow our party and strengthen it but we remain committed to the PNU coalition in government,” she asserted.
A top level meeting of PNU chaired by President Kibaki on Tuesday ended in disarray after officials failed to reach consensus on the unity agenda.
Organising Secretary Danson Mungatana informed that the party is in the meantime working towards complying with the Political Parties Act on its own and urged other affiliates to do the same.
“For us we will proceed with our program. And as we have announced before we will hold our elections in November and by then we will completely ensure that we are within the provisions of that act,” Mungatana said.
The national leadership of the party held a retreat in Naivasha last month and endorsed a resolution to pull out of PNU. The flower party elected new leaders to replace those who had fallen in the last general elections, including the deputy party leader and former Vice President Moody Awori.
Karua, who has already declared her interest in the top seat, was elected the chairperson in a move seen as one strategically placing her in the lead for the bid and to assert her interest.
The President’s inner circle seems to be fighting to be his successor with at least two more Ministers from PNU interested in the top seat.
Deputy Prime Minister and KANU Chairman Uhuru Kenyatta is reported to be putting his networks together for 2012.
Internal Security Minister George Saitoti, who was also associated with NARK Kenya, is also tipped to be keen on succeeding the President but is yet to state his party of choice.
The Head of State on Saturday told off those engaging in the succession debate and urged them to be patient and focus on development, as he was still in charge.
PNU was formed in the run up to last year’s elections by affiliate parties who supported President Kibaki’s re–election.
Other key parties within PNU including DP, KANU and FORD Kenya have already announced that they will go it alone in 2012. New Ford Kenya declined to attend Tuesday’s PNU council meeting, with MP Bonny Khalwale stating that his party was focusing on revitalising itself.
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