Uhuru sets sight on presidency

[MwanaFalsafa1]

By Kipchumba Some
As dust stirred by Sh9.2 billion ‘typing error’ in his supplementary Budget settles Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta’s eye can now shift to his grand dream — the Kibaki succession.

This is the seat his father held as founding president and which he came so close to in 2002, when then President Moi picked him as his preferred successor.

But he was beaten to it by the man who suggested the name Uhuru to his father when he was born in October 1961 — President Kibaki — who he chose to support in 2007 and whose wings he is seen to be riding for the 2012 elections. If in 2002 he was branded a project’, this time round he could be ‘Project II’ to the President and those who want to see the son of Jomo Kenyatta in State House.

But to attain this feat, of being Kenya’s third President from central Kenya, and the first to hold what was his father’s, Uhuru needs a political vehicle to State House. Many, however, believe though he has firmly held onto Kanu, this is just a technicality to guarantee him solid standing in the Grand Coalition — and come 2012 he will have found a new home — most likely President Kibaki’s Party of National Unity (PNU).

The feeling among party members is the Gatundu South MP is keener on solidifying his position in PNU. "Even if that is the case, he should realise he is still our chairman and until things change, we expect him to give us direction on crucial party issues," Kanu Secretary General Nick Salat said.

This side feels Uhuru has abandoned the party in search of "greener pastures".

"The fact that the party chairman is yet to convene a meeting of the National Executive Council definitely raises some questions," said Salat.

Salat said it was a "crisis" that the party is yet to decide whether it was going to field candidates in the coming by-elections in Shinyalu and Bomachoge pon August 27.

"It is rather tragic that we are yet to decide whether we are going to field candidates yet we ought to be endorsing the potential candidates by now," he said.

Busy chairman

But vice-chairman Marsden Madoka urged party members to be patient, saying Uhuru had been tied up by his ministerial duties.

"We understand that he is busy, but now that the Budget is complete, we hope he would find time to address critical party matters," he said.

Kanu is trying to haul itself into public limelight after its fortunes plummeted in the 2007 General Election. From 66 MPs it commanded in the last Parliament, it now has a mere 14 elected and one nominated MP. This is the lowest number of MPs it has had in its 50-year history.

The ODM wave that swept most parts of the country in 2007 robbed the party of its critical support bases in Rift Valley, Western and Coast provinces. It has been confined to North Eastern Province, which produced four of its MPs. Kanu won two seats in the Rift Valley, Central, Eastern and Nyanza provinces, while one came from Coast and Eastern.

No monthly contributions

This is where Uhuru’s second project is perceived to lie, after entrenching himself in Government by handing over Kanu to Kibaki. It is also the basis of the question: What is Uhuru doing with Kanu?

Since 2007 campaigns he has not convened a Kanu National Executive Committee meeting, despite pressure from sections of the party that want it revamped and prepared for a solo race for the presidency in 2012.

Uhuru’s Project II is anchored on to the fact that the party will be holding its national elections next year, exactly 50 years after its formation.

Uhuru’s Project II is rooted in the shadows of his first Budget Speech and its cushion against criticism he was a greenhorn in this field.

It is also wrapped around the way he has steadfastly held onto Kanu whose 14 elected Members of Parliament have long gone quiet on party affairs, and many have even refused to make their monthly contributions.

A section of party members have criticised Uhuru who is also Deputy Prime Minister ostensibly for failing to provide leadership at a time the party is struggling to regain its foothold.

Kanu MPs, too, have come under fire for doing little to market the party’s agenda within and outside of Parliament. "The raging superiority wars and jostling for positions have caused a paralyses in the party," said national organising secretary Justin Muturi.


Opportune moment

Because the party’s top decision-making organ is yet to meet, and with Uhuru deflecting pressure from Kanu’s top wigs, there is fear he has either lost interest in the party, having served his purpose in the Grand Coalition, and is waiting for an opportune moment when it will not affect his standing in the Grand Coalition, to dump it.

"Things are not as bad as they look... we have excellent grassroots support. There will be no stopping us once we get our act together," said Muturi.

"Our MPs have been a big disappointment," said Madoka. "They have abdicated their role of selling party agenda to non-parliamentarians yet they are best placed to do it," he added.

However, Nithi MP Kareke Mbiuki defended his colleagues, saying their affiliation to PNU has caused confusion among them. "We are losing our identity in PNU coalition. Some of us have stronger affiliation to PNU than Kanu which should not be the case," he said.

Source: The Standard | Online Edition :: Uhuru sets sight on presidency

 

[Lole Gwakisa]

This young feller walks the talk , and is a serious contender.

 

[MwanaFalsafa1]

This young feller walks the talk , and is a serious contender.

Kenya's Obama? haha pun intended.

 

[KyelaBoy]

Ah kwani Kenya lazima iongozwe na Wakikuyu jamani,Wakikuyu ni wabinafsi sana

 

[Lambardi]

Uhuru is the next Pres?

 

[Smatta]

Kenya's Obama? haha pun intended.

Not Kenya's Obama, not Uhuru Kenyatta in a million years. What he can do best to garner votes from the common Mwananchi is to capitalize on the implementation of the budget, let the people see and feel the benefits of his budget, this will catapult him to raila's level (popularity wise), then he can use his finances to seal the deal in the 2012 elections. Simple? Not really, many of his detractors will play the land card and he is bound to lose lots of votes if the land issue comes to play.

Uhuru Kenyatta will never become Kenyas president, even if he repackages himself a million times(and quit drugs while at it), he is not presidential material, (yes, just like Kibaki, he is not cut to live in the house on the hills). The sooner he realises this, the better for him and his family,

 

[Smatta]

Ah kwani Kenya lazima iongozwe na Wakikuyu jamani,Wakikuyu ni wabinafsi sana

Kyela boy,
Ni kweli lakini sheria lazima ifuatwe, kabila si kizuizi cha kugombea nyadhifa yoyote nchini Kenya, so Uhuru shouldnt stop contesting just because akina smatta hawataki utawala wa mkikuyu tena, (there are 42 tribes in Kenya, kama ni kabila mbili ama tatu ndizo zagombea, mbona tupige kelele, wakati we dont even vote when our tribesmen vie),we should field our own candidates(if we are really that tribalistic, so that we have 42 tribal parties and candidates fighting it out for the presidency) or not vote for him if we dont want to be ruled by his tribe..of which am against, because we should judge someone because of his/her character, but not which village he comes from.

 

[Kikojozi]

Not Kenya's Obama, not Uhuru Kenyatta in a million years......................................................................................Uhuru Kenyatta will never become Kenyas president

I wouldn't bet on this if I were you.

 

[Smatta]

I wouldn't bet on this if I were you.

Kikojozi,
Am betting my life savings, coz am more than a hundred percent sure. Just like Kalonzo(the v.p), they are in just for the ride, and maybe hopes of being squeezed in the 2012 government. They have no appeal to the masses, one is an opportunistic coward, while the other is a rich alcholic, just in to maintain the status quo of the political thugs.

 

[Lole Gwakisa]

Not Kenya's Obama, not Uhuru Kenyatta in a million years. What he can do best to garner votes from the common Mwananchi is to capitalize on the implementation of the budget, let the people see and feel the benefits of his budget, this will catapult him to raila's level (popularity wise), then he can use his finances to seal the deal in the 2012 elections. Simple? Not really, many of his detractors will play the land card and he is bound to lose lots of votes if the land issue comes to play.

Uhuru Kenyatta will never become Kenyas president, even if he repackages himself a million times(and quit drugs while at it), he is not presidential material, (yes, just like Kibaki, he is not cut to live in the house on the hills). The sooner he realises this, the better for him and his family,

GOSH!! Smatta you have picked the feller inside out! So he does drugs?

 

[Kikojozi]

Kikojozi,
Am betting my life savings, coz am more than a hundred percent sure. Just like Kalonzo(the v.p), they are in just for the ride, and maybe hopes of being squeezed in the 2012 government. They have no appeal to the masses, one is an opportunistic coward, while the other is a rich alcholic, just in to maintain the status quo of the political thugs.

Which other candidate from central province do you reckon is being groomed to take over from Mzee Kibaki? Who could be more appealing to the political thugs than Uhuru? Dont you think his budget being hailed as a 'success' is part of a wider political gameplan, an attempt to raise his credibility and mass appeal?

 

[Smatta]

GOSH!! Smatta you have picked the feller inside out! So he does drugs?

daaaaaaah, its evident, the dude seems high like all the time he's in public. It seems like he rolls blunt a lot, though ulevi wake umetusaidia coz taxation ya pombe(wines and spirits) imepunguzwa kwa asilimia kubwa, especially vile tulikuwa tunatarajia sin tax iongezwe.