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GNU Parties Strike Election Deal

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Published on Monday, 02 July 2007 02:22

Political parties grouped under the Government of National Unity are working on a formula to field single candidates in areas where GNU members enjoy massive support. The scheme is aimed at beating ODM-Kenya in the coming elections and ensure the GNU parties do not antagonise each other.According to Kitutu Chache MP, Mr Jimmy Angwenyi, the parties have agreed not to sponsor candidates in areas seen as strongholds of a particular constituent party.

Instead of competing against each other, the parties will seek to solidify their support against ODM-Kenya candidates."We have agreed that the parties go to the polls as a team to avoid situations where pro-Kibaki parties fight for the same seats against a single ODM-Kenya candidate," said Angwenyi.Angwenyi singled out Kisii and parts of Bungoma District as regions that would not allow competition among GNU parties.

Kisii is largely viewed as a Ford-People stronghold while Bungoma is a Ford-Kenya bloc, except Kimilili constituency, represented by Trade minister, Dr Mukhisa Kituyi (Narc-Kenya).

Ford-People had threatened to pull out of GNU

Ford-People and Ford-Kenya, led by Cabinet ministers, Mr Simeon Nyachae and Mr Musikari Kombo, are key members of GNU.The parties, which have MPs in Kisii and parts of Bungoma, plan to give Kibaki the crucial and mandatory 25 per cent vote in Nyanza and Western provinces respectively."We want to avoid a situation where two camps will be seeking votes for Kibaki but at the same time campaigning against each other for the parliamentary seats," said Angwenyi.Narc-Kenya excluded all 10 Kisii constituencies from its grassroots elections last week.

The party national interim officials, led by party chairman, Mr Raphael Tuju, did not give reasons for the cancellation, but sources said Ford-People had threatened to pull out of the GNU if the elections went on."This is a Ford-People stronghold and according to discussions between GNU parties on the Kibaki re-election plan, it would be against the GNU spirit to have Narc-Kenya try to take over Kisii," said Angwenyi.Three branches have since ignored the cancellation and gone ahead to hold Narc-Kenya elections, setting a stage for possible political confrontation.

Kisii region Narc-Kenya co-ordinator, Mrs Catherine Nyamato, on Sunday said elections had been carried out in West Mugirango, Kitutu Masaba and Bobasi constituencies."We are in the process of forwarding the results to the headquarters for ratification," said the former nominated MP.During the elections, Nyamato was elected unopposed, the West Mugirango branch chairperson while Mr Nyamboga Mose was elected chairman in Kitutu Masaba.