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PNU Seeks Nyachae's Support for By-Election

Details

Published on Saturday, 20 February 2010 21:40

PNU coalition is reaching out to former Cabinet Minister Simeon Nyachae to lend support during its campaigns in a bid to wrest South Mugirango parliamentary seat from ODM.

Interviews with PNU top officials revealed talks were at an advanced stage to have all parties under the coalition to field one candidate during the by-election.

Earlier reports had indicated that the Nyachae-led Ford People was determined to ditch the PNU coalition and go it alone during the by-election.

The coalition's top decision making organ held a meeting last week during which it was resolved to use Mr Nyachae's political experience and popularity in Gusiiland to clinch the seat that was held by ODM's James Omingo Magara before the high court nullified his election last December.

"Yes, we had our meeting on Monday (last week) and we agreed that we need to reach out to Mzee Nyachae. We must involve him because he has a lot of support in that area," PNU national organising secretary Maina Kamanda said in an interview.

Mr Kamanda also confirmed the meeting resolved that all the parties under the coalition would field a common candidate during the by-election.

"We cannot repeat the mistake we made in Bomachoge and paid dearly for it. We will have one candidate this time round," he added.

The reports were corroborated by one of the coalition's vice-chairmen, former Kitutu Chache MP Jimmy Nuru Angwenyi.

"Ford People is in the PNU coalition and I can confirm to you that we will field one candidate during the by-election," said Mr Angwenyi.

The latest move appears to have been borne out of lessons learnt during the Bomachoge by-election when both Ford People and the PNU coalition fielded candidates, only to be trounced by ODM's Simon Ogari.

The decision by Ford People to field a candidate during the by-election was in reaction former MP Joel Onyancha failing to contest on Ford People ticket as it was in 2007 General Election and instead opted to be the PNU flagbearer, an act that infuriated the Nyachae group.

The PNU leadership is also keen to exploit the differences in ODM pitting Mr Magara's supporters and those opposed to his leadership.

Mr Magara's supporters, led by Cabinet ministers William Ruto and Najib Balala have been rooting for the direct nomination of the former MP, calls that have been vigorously opposed by the rival camp gravitating around Public Works minister Chris Obure.

The differences within the ODM camp were clearly evident during Friday's burial of Seth Nyankieya Magara, the son to Mr Magara's elder brother and former area MP Enock Nyankieya.

Led calls

Addressing mourners, Mr Ruto led calls for ODM to grant Mr Magara a direct nomination. Other speakers who made similar calls included assistant minister Charles Keter and MP Onsare Monda.

The rift in ODM was also illustrated by the absence at the burial of leaders from the rival camp, led by Mr Obure and Mr Ogari whose constituencies neighbour South Mugirango in the larger Gucha district. Also missing were two other MPs also opposed to Mr Magara - Bonchari's Charles Onyancha and Kitutu Chache's Richard Onyonka.

The Obure camp is lobbying the party to hold nominations to pick its candidate with a firm belief that their man, former teacher Ibrahim Ochoi will trounce Mr Magara.

Already, the petitioner, Mr Manson Oyongo Nyamweya, is seen as the frontrunner with the Ford People camp pushing for his direct nomination to avoid a fallout that may arise if it were to hold nominations.

Speaking to the Sunday Nation, Ford People's director of elections and Mr Nyachae's close ally, James Kenani maintained that the PNU coalition ought to throw its weight behind Mr Nyamweya.

Mr Nyamweya's popularity is said to have risen significantly following the successful petition, giving him an edge over the other candidates leaning towards PNU.

Clinch sea

The coalition hopes the involvement of Mr Nyachae in the PNU campaigns would significantly bolster its chances of clinching the seat.

If Mr Nyachae is roped into the campaign, he will work side by side with his former archrival who is now Education minister Prof Sam Ongeri.

That the two veteran politicians have been warming up to each other as has been evidenced in Mr Nyachae's recent utterances. He has defended Prof Ongeri against calls for him to quit over the Free Primary Education (FPE) funds scandal.

In an interview, Mr Angwenyi confirmed the two politicians had buried the hatchet and were ready to work together.

"Nyachae and Ongeri are working very well. Nyachae is our senior most politicians and Ongeri is the second most senior politician we have today," he said.