KANU finally agrees to back Uhuru’s re-election bid

Independence party, Kenya African National Union (KANU), has resolved to support President Uhuru Kenyatta’s re-election bid in the August 8 General Election.

KANU chairman, Gideon Moi – who is also the Baringo Senator, says the party arrived at the decision after consultations with area residents in the interest of the party and country.

He, however, said that KANU will field candidates in all other posts across the country.

The decision by KANU comes barely a week after President Kenyatta held closed door talks with retired President, Daniel Arap Moi, at his Kabarnet Gardens home in Nairobi.

Although details of the meeting remain scanty, sources revealed that President Kenyatta and Mr Moi deliberated on a host of issues including KANU’s support of his re-election.

Mid January, President Kenyatta’s mother and former First Lady, Mama Ngina Kenyatta, made a similar visit to Mr Moi in what was viewed by political pundits as a game-changer in the Rift Valley politics.

President Kenyatta has been courting Gideon Moi to back his re-election bid in the August 8 polls.

Speaking after the NEC meeting in Nakuru, the son of retired President also hinted that he will defend his Baringo Senatorial seat in the coming poll.

KANU Secretary General, Nick Salat, who has been instrumental in the formation of the opposition National Super Alliance (NASA), said the party made the decision after crucial deliberations that came amid talks the party was considering backing the united opposition outfit – NASA.

Moi has at the same time appealed to President Kenyatta to intervene to end the now regular vicious attacks by cattle rustlers that has so far claimed more than five lives in the last week, while appealing for calm.

On Thursday, January 19, Senator Moi was given two weeks to decide whether the party would be joining NASA or support re-election of President Kenyatta.

KANU’s top decision making organ also gave him the mandate to decide whether the party would field a presidential candidate in the August 8 polls.

The party also indicated that the sentiments of KANU Secretary General, Nick Salat, during the opposition unity meeting at Bomas of Kenya on January 12 were not those of its leadership but his personal.

The meeting followed after sharp divisions in the independence party over Salat’s sentiments that KANU would join NASA with West Pokot Senator, John Lonyangapuo, and nominated Senator, Zipporah Kittony, issuing conflicting sentiments.